Bee attack in Madurai forces kin to abandon dead body at burial ground 

PTI

Published Nov 29, 2017, 7:55 pm IST

They were preparing for the burial yesterday when the swarm of bees appeared from nowhere and stung, prompting them to leave the body.

A couple of persons sustained injuries in the incident and were treated at a local hospital (Photo: Pixabay)

Madurai: In a bizzare incident, the body of an 80-year old dead woman was briefly abandoned at a burial ground near here as her relatives ran for cover following a attack by bees.

The kith and kin were preparing for the burial yesterday when the swarm of bees appeared from nowhere and stung, prompting them to leave the body and run for cover, police said.

Police said they suspect smoke emanating from incense sticks brought by the relatives could have 'irritated' the bees that swarmed the place and started attacking the gathering.

A police team from local Thirumangalam station and Fire and Rescue services personnel immediately reached the spot, with the latter using fire torches to drive the insects away.

Later, the deceased was buried, they said. A couple of persons sustained injuries in the incident and were treated at a local hospital, police added.

An inspection of the nearby trees revealed that there were no beehives but it was suspected that the bees could have been possibly hiding in holes in tree trunks, police said.

Maggi trouble in UP again, Rs 62 lakh fine after it fails laboratory test 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | AMITA VERMA

Published Nov 30, 2017, 1:46 am IST

Report confirms presence of ash higher than permissible limit.



Four samples of Maggi Masala, two samples of Maggi Pazzta and a sample of Maggi Atta noodles failed the lab test.

Lucknow: A district court in Shahjahanpur has imposed a fine of Rs 62 lakh on consumer goods giant Nestle and its distributors and sellers after a laboratory report confirmed presence of ash content, higher than the permissible limit, in samples of Maggi noodles.

It may be noted that seven samples were collected and sent for testing at a laboratory in Lucknow in 2015 and the report was received in 2016, following which seven cases were lodged at the additional district magistrate’s court.

Of the total fine, the court has levied Rs 45 lakh on Nestle India, Rs 15 lakh on distributors and Rs 2 lakh each on two sellers.

The court order comes after alleged excessive lead content in Maggi created a major controversy in 2015, and the popular noodles brand was banned for five months in the country.

However, in a statement to a news agency, a Nestle India spokesperson said, “We strongly reiterate that Maggi noodles are 100 per cent safe for consumption. While we have not received the orders passed by the adjudication officer, we have been informed that the samples are of 2015 and the issue pertains to ‘ash content’ in noodles.

This appears to be a case of application of incorrect standards, and we will file an appeal urgently once we receive the order.

In 2015, Nestle India and other companies had represented to the relevant authorities, via industry associations, to set standards specific to instant noodles to avoid confusion amongst enforcement officers and consumers.

The standards have since been introduced and the product complies with these standards. We regret the confusion it may cause to consumers”.

ADM J.K. Sharma, while levying the fines, said that “Ash content in Maggi samples exceeded the prescribed limit of 1 per cent.”

Bag-lifting continues unchecked at Madurai MGR bus terminal

TNN | Nov 30, 2017, 00:31 IST

 

Madurai: What's in a name? So seem to ask the thieves at the city's famous Mattuthavani bus terminal which was rechristened MGR bus stand some months ago. For, there has been no end to the bag lifting menace that continues to haunt passengers frequenting the bus stand with the thieves targeting mostly the laptops being carried by them. Seven cases were registered by Anna Nagar police in connection with laptop thefts at the terminal between April and September.

City corporation sources said that on an average, up to 2.5 lakh passengers and 3,000 buses passed through the bus terminal a day. Although the terminal could boast of CCTV facility, it did not cover all parts. Among those who lost their laptops was the zonal deputy tahsildar of Ottapidaram in Tuticorin district. Police said he was travelling on a government bus bound for Tirunelveli on May 29 when an yet-to-be-identified thief entered and made away with the bag kept on the luggage wrack. Similarly, many employees working in private firms including software professionals have lost their laptops to the thieves.

This government teacher spends own money for students' welfare

Nov 29, 2017, 14:21 IST



Jayakumar, a government school teacher from Bodinayakkanpatti, has been spending Rs 30,000 from his monthly salary for the development of students.

After the completion of school he helps them in getting admission to ITI, so that they can have a good future. He also helps students who are interested in higher education.

He has built a hostel for scheduled caste students. Almost 45 students are staying in the hostel including 10 girls.

Jayakumar never asks for help. He and his wife Catherine Lima, who is also a teacher, mostly spend their own money. Sometime their friends and other college principals also help them in supporting students.

Latest Comment   Hats off Jayakumar Ji! We salute you for having taken interest on students and developing their skill for a better future. It is because of good deeds like these we do get some rain and our farmers ... Read MoreGopalarathnam Krishna Prasad

Till now he had given life to 460 government school students. He was awarded best teacher by the Tamil Nadu government in 2010 for his services. He was also awarded by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Rajinikanth will announce his political entry in January, actor’s brother says

V Senthil Kumaran | TNN | Updated: Nov 29, 2017, 22:52 IST

Highlights

Rajinikanth will organise a photo shoot with his fans in Chennai in January where he will announce his political entry, actor’s brother says

Rajinikanth will do only good things for the people in the country if he comes to politics, the brother says



DHARMAPURI: Actor Rajinikanth's elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad said on Wednesday that the Tamil superstar would announce his political entry and his party in January.

Gaekwad was in Dharmapuri to participate in the wedding of Rajinikanth fan club district secretary Gandhi's son.

  He told reporters that Rajinikanth would organise a photo shoot with his fans in Chennai in January. "At that time, he will make the announcement about his political entry and his party," he said.

  He said Rajinikanth would not make the announcement on his birthday on December 12. There were speculations that the superstar would announce his political entry on his birthday.



Top Comment  Which January?Pampanan Thulasimani

Actor Rajinikanth's elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad (TOI photo by A M Shudhagar)

Gaekwad said, "Everyone in the country loves Rajnikanth. He will do only good things for the people if he comes to politics."

Direct train services between Arakkonam and Velachery to end

Siddharth Prabhakar | TNN | Updated: Nov 29, 2017, 09:49 IST



CHENNAI: There's some good news and bad news for commuters of the Chennai-Arakkonam suburban trains. Southern Railway will soon operate 12-car EMU trains on the section, replacing the ninecar rakes currently in operation. This will ease peak hour congestion in the hugely patronised trains on this route.

So what's the bad news? Once this happens, the 51 services operated as cross sectoral services from this section to Velachery on the MRTS section will have to be stopped.

This is because platforms on the Chennai Beach-Velachery MRTS section long enough only to support a nine-car EMU rake.

Cross-sectoral services were introduced by the Chennai division in July last year. Earlier, commuters from western suburbs like Avadi, Pattabiram and Arakkonam, who had to travel on the MRTS section had to get down at Chennai Beach station and board a connecting train. This was particularly difficult for office-goers and senior citizens.

Cross-sectoral services simplified this by ensuring that the same train from the western suburbs ran till Velachery, eliminating the need to get down at Beach. Around 15,000 commuters use the cross-sectoral services everyday, railway officials said.

Top sources in Southern Railway said the closure of cross-sectoral services was inevitable given that they needed to maintain operational consistency. The zone operates 12-car rakes on the Chennai Beach-Tambaram-Chengalpet section.

Sources said one 12-car rake had reached the Annanur shed on October 30. The EMU rakes currently use alternating current (AC) and convert it into direct current to power the motors. However, the new rakes will take single phase AC and convert it into three phase AC.

Five more 12-car rakes will be shortly received by the shed, sources said. Totally, the Arakkonam section has 36 nine-car rakes which will be converted to 12-car rakes, sources added. Induction of the 12-car rakes is delayed because four platforms on the section are yet to be lengthened. However, only patch-work is remaining and it would be completed soon, a senior official said.

Tamil not must for Class X students from other states

TNN | Updated: Nov 30, 2017, 05:42 IST

 

 

CHENNAI: Tamil will no longer be compulsory in Tamil Nadu schools for Class X students from other states.

The state government recently amended the Tamil Compulsory Learning Act 2006 to ensure non-Tamil speaking students from other states do not 'suffer'. An order was issued allowing these students to study a language of their choice for the SSLC board exams.

The amendment comes as a relief for wards of central government employees.

'Students can learn any language made available by school'

The said Act was enacted in June 2006 making Tamil compulsory for Class I students in all schools regardless of the board they were affiliated to. It was extended to higher classes later.

In 2015-16, after Tamil became compulsory for Class X students, a few schools moved the Supreme Court which dismissed their petition. A section of students, mostly from minority institutions, then sought an exemption from the Madras High Court.

A temporary relief was given to these students for a year based on the court's direction. Private matriculation schools and CBSE schools continued their protest seeking a permanent exemption.

A headmaster from a CBSE school in Chennai said expecting students who join a school through an academic year to learn a new language overnight is unfair. "Unlike middle school, performance of students in Class X plays a crucial role during course selection and admission later."

"The state should create adequate infrastructure to teach a langauge in a short span. Until then, it is better to leave the choice of learning a language to students," said S Mani, parent of a CBSE student.

Several representations were sent to the government in this connection. In response, school education secretary Pradeep Yadav recently issued orders exempting students of parents from other states who joined schools in Tamil Nadu halfway through an academic year because of a transfer or other valid reasons from taking Tamil in the board exams.

Latest Comment

I do not think Tamil is ever made compulsory in TN .Hammer

Instead, they can study any language made available by the school concerned. "By this, there will be a fair competition between the students," said a senior official. Applicants seeking exemption can do so with the respective schools who will take it forward through chief educational officers.