Withdrawn buses, strike to make travel difficult in Avadi

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  24.11.2020 

Ahead of heavy rain, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has reduced bus services in the western suburbs of the city. This, coupled with the upcoming nationwide trade unions’ strike, could make commuting difficult for residents.

The MTC management, however, said the strike on November 26 will not have an impact on services as they have enough staff who will not participate in the strike. These staff belong to Anna Thozhil Sangam, a union affiliated to the ruling AIADMK. The corporation will run 2,500-odd buses in the city.

“But around 10,000 workers in Chennai are expected to participate in the strike against the central government’s anti-labour policies,” said K Aarumugha Nainaar from CITU, which will join hands with the DMK-affiliated Labour Progressive Front, in Tamil Nadu for the strike.

R M Swamy from SVSAAP union, which has decided not to participate in the strike, said none of the political parties, which called for strike, tried to resolve the long-pending issues. “They were using workers as pawns for their political motives and gain,” he said.

Asked about the withdrawn services on the outskirts, a senior MTC official said nine services have been stopped temporarily as their earnings per kilometre were below par. Of them, six were from the Avadi depot. These include routes 47D SP (Avadi-Thiruvanmiyur) and 104A (Avadi-Tambaram), introduced last month. These buses fetched around Rs 6,000 a day through ticket sales.

T Sadagopan, a consumer rights’ activist from Avadi, said commuting will become expensive in the absence of buses.

“There are no local trains and people here depend on MTC buses for commuting. With no buses, people will have to spend Rs 50-70 extra every day on share autos to reach Ambattur or Koyambedu.”

MTC has already stopped operating services such as 71E (Broadway-Thirunindravur) because of traffic restrictions to facilitate construction of a bridge at Pattabiram. Residents who stay on the other side of Outer Ring Road have to take three buses to reach the city and spend at least three hours extra a day for travel, he said.

Man ‘detained’ by wife, friend moves Madras HC

Man ‘detained’ by wife, friend moves Madras HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  24.11.2020 

The Madras high court has appointed an advocate commissioner to inquire into the petition by a man who sought to ‘rescue’ his friend from the latter’s wife.

The petitioner moved a habeas corpus petition before the court saying his friend was under illegal detention. The petitioner claimed his friend is being forcibly detained by his wife and two others who are trying to make him transfer properties in his name to her.

According to the petitioner, the wife of his friend is keeping him in illegal custody by forcibly treating him for alcohol de-addiction. The petitioner said his friend’s condition is precarious and he is not under the influence of alcohol at any point of time.

Counsel for the woman said the allegations were untrue. “The wife has to make sure that the detenu comes out of his habits and therefore admitted him to an authorised de-addiction centre in Valasaravakkam,” counsel submitted.

Counsel also contested claims that there are attempts to transfer property.

A division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice D Krishnakunar, after hearing both sides said considering the submission that the condition of the detenu is precarious, they are inclined to appoint an advocate commissioner to ascertain the facts.

“The advocate commissioner shall make an inquiry with the woman and her husband and file a report by Wednesday (November 25). The report should also indicate the statement on inquiry from the de-addiction centre. Needless to state that the report should also touch upon the habit of the detenu and his physical conditions as well,” the division bench said and directed the petitioner to pay the initial remuneration of ₹10,000 to the advocate commissioner.

The petitioner said the woman was holding her husband captive and was trying to transfer his property in her name. The woman’s lawyer said the charges were false

CITY GEARS UP TO FACE CYCLONE NIVAR

CITY GEARS UP TO FACE CYCLONE NIVAR

Four Years After Vardah, Government Puts To Use Lessons Learned The Hard Way, Readies Personnel, Equipment To Handle Damage

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  24.11.2020 

With memories of the damage caused by Cyclone ‘Vardah’ in the city and neighbouring districts still afresh, government departments are readying contingency plans to face Cyclone ‘Nivar’. The meteorological department has said that Nivar may make a landfall on Wednesday. The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast wind speeds to be in the range of 100-110km an hour.

Unlike 2016, this time, the government departments have made proactive arrangements with lessons learnt from Vardah and the even more devastating Cyclone ‘Gaja’ which ravaged the interior districts in 2018.

Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force (TNDRF) has trained police personnel and home guard personnel in the state and 60 armed reserve police personnel are trained to handle rescue gadgets and rescue operation measures in each district.

These trained personnel will be deployed at coastal districts in the state, said A K Viswanathan, ADGP, who heads TNDRF. Fire and rescue service personnel are on standby in vulnerable areas and will be assisting the NDRF and TNDRF.

Greater Chennai Corporation has instructed its zonal officials to keep at least five relief centres ready by Monday night in each zone. There are 15 zones in the city.

There are totally 170 relief centres and about 75 will be ready for occupation by Tuesday, said deputy commissioner, works (in-charge), Meghanatha Reddy.

“We want to avoid any electrocution and ensure there are no tree falls. We are keeping a close watch on the cyclone,” said Reddy.

Apart from this, the civic body has kept personnel and machinery ready at all ward offices. The civic body has been coordinating with the Tangedco to avoid any accidents. Emergency numbers have been circulated via social media.

“We have a great tool in hand now. We hope public follow all the instructions given by us through social media and other mediums,” said Reddy.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has stocked up on sand bags and casuarina poles in all districts. In Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet districts, the PWD has 30 stockyards where materials have been kept ready. Apart from this, they have monitoring stations in each reservoir, major tanks and lakes across the state, said an official.

Minister for electricity, P Thangamani, held a meeting with Tangedco officials on Monday to review the arrangements in place. A senior official with the distribution wing of Tangedco said power supply will be cut off in case of heavy rain and will be restored only after assessment.

DÉJÀ VU: Personnel (top) from the fire and rescue services department get ready for Cyclone Nivar. The administration is prepared to handle a cyclone, having learned lessons during Vardah (above) in 2016

BUSES SUSPENDED IN SEVEN DISTRICTS

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced suspension of intra and inter-district bus transport in Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruvarur and Chengalpet districts from 1pm on November 24 till further orders. Six teams of NDRF are camping in Cuddalore district and two teams are stationed in Chennai with adequate machinery, the CM said in a statement. He urged people to avoid taking out vehicles unless essential. Fishermen should not venture into sea and people in the districts, where heavy rain and strong winds are forecast, should avoid stepping out on Tuesday and Wednesday. “People should keep Aadhaar, driving licence, electors’ photo identity card, ration card, bank passbooks, educational certificates and property documents safely,” the CM said.

Public are advised not to go near power transmission lines, electric poles and transformers. Electrical appliances at homes should be handled with care. Since trees could fall and even heavy objects could move and swing during heavy winds, people should not venture out of their houses, he said.

Senior IAS officials have been deputed to the districts likely to be affected by the cyclone to take precautionary measures and monitor relief work. Multi-departmental rescue teams from revenue, municipal administration, fire and rescue services, PWD, highways, Tangedco and health sectors will camp in the seven districts with adequate fuel, earth movers, trucks, tree-cutting tools, sand bags and electric poles. “People living in unsafe buildings are being shifted to relief camps, which have been equipped with drinking water, toilets, power generators, food supply, mats and blankets,” the CM said. TNN

People should keep Aadhaar, driving licence... educational certificates safely

Edappadi Palaniswami CM

MADURAI MEDICAL COLLEGE ALUMNUS

MADURAI MEDICAL COLLEGE ALUMNUS

Sacked transsexual doc found begging in TN

Devanathan.Veerappan@timesgroup.com

Madurai: 24.11.2020 

A young doctor who graduated from the Madurai Government Medical College in 2018 has ended up begging on the streets with a group of transgenders as he was sacked from a hospital after undergoing sex change surgery.

The doctor was among a group of transgenders who were rounded up by police recently following complaints that they were begging on the streets in the city and troubling passersby.

Police inspector G Kavitha said she didn’t believe the doctor at first. “We checked her documents and spoke to doctors from Madurai Medical College, who confirmed the story. We were told that the doctor, who was a male in college, was brilliant in studies. It has been 20 days since I met her. She is now staying along with a transgender in the city,” she said.

The inspector said that after working in a city hospital as a male doctor for a year, she underwent a surgery and became a woman. As a result, she lost her job. She needs to get her certificates changed so that she can start working as a doctor again, Kavitha said.

Family disowned doc; cops setting up clinic for her

She also wants to do post-graduation, the inspector said. “We are ready to help her. After he completed his house surgency, I heard he was undergoing sex reassignment surgery. I did not know what happened after that,” dean of Madurai Medical College and Government Rajaji Hospital Dr J Sangumani told TOI.

Police and a medical lab owner are setting up a clinic for her in Madurai, they’ve got her a stethoscope and a doctor’s coat. Police sources said she was upset with all the publicity after her photo in the new coat and with the stethoscope went viral on social media.

Inspector Kavitha said the doctor’s family had disowned her because she underwent sex change surgery

High alert as severe cyclonic storm Nivar nears TN coastline

High alert as severe cyclonic storm Nivar nears TN coastline

Buses & Trains Cancelled; Chennai To Get Heavy Rain

Chennai: 24.11.2020 

Severe cyclonic storm Nivar is expected to bring heavy rainfall to the city when it makes landfall between Mamallapuram and Karaikal on Wednesday evening.

The India Meteorological Department said a storm surge of about 2m above the sea level is likely around the time of landfall, causing inundation of low-lying areas.

On Monday evening, Aminjikarai, Choolaimedu, Alandur and Nanganallur got light rain accompanied by strong winds.

The state has ordered suspension of intra and inter-district bus services in Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruvarur and Chengalpet districts from 1pm on November 24 till further orders. Meanwhile, the selection committee has postponed MBBS/BDS counselling on Tuesday to November 30. For further updates go to https://tnhealth.tn.gov.in. In Puducherry, CM V Narayanasamy chaired a meeting to review preparedness of the administration in facing the cyclone. TNN

FULL COVERAGE: P 2

Nivar is expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening

Oxford vaccine ‘70% effective’, may get India nod by year-end

Oxford vaccine ‘70% effective’, may get India nod by year-end

Will be Sold At ₹220-₹300/Dose To Govt, ₹500-₹600 In Private Market

Rupali.Mukherjee@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:24.11.2020

Armed with interim findings of the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine trials — which showed 70% effectiveness in preventing people from getting infected — Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) is set to seek emergency regulatory approval and hopes to get a goahead by the year-end.

The ‘positive’ data raises hopes for a faster rollout of the vaccine in India, as the Astra-Zeneca data exceeds the 50% primary efficacy endpoint set by Indian drug regulator DCGI as part of its draft guidelines for Covid-19 vaccines.

“We will be applying for the emergency licensure very soon and hope to get it in a month or so. The final approval depends on DCGI’s decision,” SII CEO Adar Poonawalla told TOI. He added that the company has so far stockpiled around four crore doses, and will have around 10 crore doses by January. A majority of these will be marked as priority for India.

For ₹1.75L, Mum co will ‘fly you to US for vaccine’

As an anti-Covid vaccine inches closer to reality, a Mumbai-based travel firm put out a message on WhatsApp offering to fly clients to the US for a four-day stay and a shot for ₹1.75 lakh. Despite repeated attempts, TOI could not get in touch with the firm, but received a text saying, “We are developing vaccine tourism... We are not holding or procuring any vaccine. Everything we will arrange will be within laws of the US. We do not collect any advance or deposits now. We just need your registration with us with your name, email, cell, age, any one of physical complications and passport copy.” P10

Competing Covid vaccines are expected to be priced higher

Covishield will be available in the market at ₹500-600 per dose, and at ₹220-300 ($3-4) for the government, he added. Two doses of the vaccine will be required.

Competing vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are expected to be priced higher. The Moderna vaccine may cost up to $37 or ₹2,775 per dose, while Pfizer could price its offering around $20 or ₹1,500.

“At this point, I am delighted that Covishield, a low-cost, logistically manageable and soon to be widely available, Covid-19 vaccine, will offer protection up to 90% in one type of dosage regime and 62% in the other dosage regime,” he said.

Globally, the clinical trials on ‘AZD1222’, which evaluated participants over 18 years, showed one dosing regimen with a vaccine efficacy of 90% when half a dose, followed by a full dose at least one month apart, was given. The other dosing regimen showed 62% efficacy when two full doses of the vaccine were given, with a gap of at least a month. The combined analysis from both dosing regimens resulted in an average efficacy of 70%. Though the efficacy of the vaccine is much lower than the around 95% achieved by both Pfizer and Moderna, the vaccine holds more promise for India because of its price, simpler supply chain and scalable platform. The vaccine can be stored in normal refrigerated temperature (2-8°C), and does not require the build-up of a sub-zero cooling chain, which makes it easier to transport, store and distribute even in remote areas.

The Phase-III clinical trials of Covishield on 1,600 participants are ongoing across India and are expected to be completed by mid-December. The interim data of trials— running since October— is promising, Poonawalla said.

எம்.பி.பி.எஸ். பொதுக் கலந்தாய்வு இன்று தொடக்கம்

எம்.பி.பி.எஸ். பொதுக் கலந்தாய்வு இன்று தொடக்கம்

23.11.2020

எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., பி.டி.எஸ். படிப்புகளுக்கான பொதுக் கலந்தாய்வு திங்கள்கிழமை (நவ.23) தொடங்குகிறது. முதல் நாளில், 361 பேருக்கு அழைப்பு விடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நிகழ் கல்வியாண்டுக்கான எம்.பி.பி.எஸ். மற்றும் பி.டி.எஸ். கலந்தாய்வு கடந்த 18-ஆம் தேதி தொடங்கியது. முதலில் அரசுப் பள்ளி மாணவா்களுக்கான 7.5 சதவீத உள்ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களுக்கு கலந்தாய்வு நடத்தப்பட்டது.

அதன்படி, 313 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ். இடங்கள், 92 பி.டி.எஸ். இடங்கள் என மொத்தம் 405 இடங்களுக்கு 3 நாள்கள் நடைபெற்ற கலந்தாய்வில், 6 பிடிஎஸ் இடங்களைத் தவிர அனைத்தும் நிரப்பப்பட்டன.

அதனைத் தொடா்ந்து, சிறப்புப் பிரிவினருக்கான கலந்தாய்வு கடந்த சனிக்கிழமை நடைபெற்றது. அதில், 87 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ். இடங்களும், 4 பி.டி.எஸ். இடங்களும் நிரம்பவில்லை. இதையடுத்து காலியாக உள்ள இடங்கள் பொதுக் கலந்தாய்வில் சோக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

இந்நிலையில், பொதுக் கலந்தாய்வு திங்கள்கிழமை முதல் தொடங்குகிறது. முதல் நாளில் தரவரிசையில் 1 முதல் 361 வரையிலான இடங்களில் உள்ளவா்களுக்கும் (நீட் தோவு மதிப்பெண் 710 முதல் 631 வரை), செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை (நவ.24) 362 முதல் 751 வரையிலான தரவரிசையில் உள்ளவா்களுக்கும் (நீட் தோவு மதிப்பெண் 630 முதல் 610 வரை) கலந்தாய்வு நடைபெறவிருக்கிறது.

அதன்தொடா்ச்சியாக புதன்கிழமை (நவ.25) 752 முதல் 1,203 வரையிலான இடங்களைப் பெற்றவா்களுக்கும் (நீட் தோவு மதிப்பெண் 609 முதல் 592 வரை), வியாழக்கிழமை (நவ.26) 1,204 முதல் 1,701 வரை உள்ளவா்களுக்கும் (நீட் தோவு மதிப்பெண் 591 முதல் 575 வரை) மாணவா் சோக்கை கலந்தாய்வு நடத்தப்பட உள்ளது. அதற்கு அடுத்தடுத்த தினங்களில், தரவரிசைப்படி தொடா்ந்து கலந்தாய்வு நடைபெறவிருக்கிறது.

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Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Dinamani