Velachery repoll: Just 186 of 548 votes cast

Velachery repoll: Just 186 of 548 votes cast

34 Less Than What Was Recorded On April 6

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Repolling at booth 92 in Velachery constituency concluded in a smooth manner on Saturday. Only 186 of the total 548 votes were polled, accounting for a 34% turnout.

The votes cast were 34 less than the 220 recorded on election day (April 6).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had ordered repolling at the booth after Greater Chennai Corporation staff were caught carrying two EVMs and a VVPAT machine on a twowheeler after polling hours on April 6. The authorities claimed they were unused machines. A day later, the civic body suspended three staff members including an assistant engineer in connection with the incident. However, since the method adopted for transportation was against standard protocol, a repoll was ordered.

By noon on Saturday, around 90 votes were polled at the all-male booth at Seetharaman Nagar in Velachery. The area was fortified with heavy police presence and voters were not allowed to take their vehicles near the polling booth.

“The number of polling officials and police personnel on duty for the repoll easily outnumbered the number of voters who turned up,” said a corporation official.

Earlier in the day, corporation commissioner, G Prakash, who is also the district election officer, inspected the arrangements at the polling booth.

The last vote was polled around 5 pm and until the end of polling hours, no voter turned up. After the conclusion of polling, the EVM machines were loaded onto a van in the presence of booth agents and then sent to the strong room. The entire process was videographed.

On April 6, when the state went to polls, commotion prevailed at Velachery after polling hours because of the incident and workers of the Congress and DMK thronged the Velachery police station seeking action against the corporation staff, who were initially assumed to be AIADMK workers.

A food delivery agent who noticed the machines being transported on two bikes confronted the riders, after one of the machines fell down on Taramani Main Road in Velachery and the issue soon escalated. Some party cadres also treated the staff to mob justice before police intervened.

UNDER STRICT WATCH: Repolling underway at DAV Public School, Velachery on Saturday

Rly commuters found without masks to pay ₹500 penalty

Rly commuters found without masks to pay ₹500 penalty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

For the next six months, Southern Railway will impose a fine of up to ₹500 on passengers who are mask-less in stations and trains.

The decision to impose fines came after the railways received many complaints. Southern Railway has also carried out awareness programmes at railway stations to encourage passengers to wear masks.

The board has authorised all Zonal Railway to impose fine up to ₹500 under Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at Railway premises) Rules, 2012, on those not wearing face mask. Officials authorised to collect these fines include the station master or manager, an officer above the rank of ticket collector of the commercial department or an officer of an equivalent rank of the operating department, RPF officials and any other official who may be subsequently authorised by the Railway administration.

Salem meat & fish shops to remain shut on Sundays

Salem meat & fish shops to remain shut on Sundays

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

18.04.2021

Salem municipal corporation commissioner N Ravichandran ordered closure of meat and fish shops on Sundays with immediate effect and until further orders. “We took the decision as part of the Covid-19 transmission and protective measures,” Ravichandran said.

The commissioner said there were more than 500 meat and fish shops functioning within city limits. These shops are open every day and attract large crowds. “People failed to maintain social distance while buying the meat or fish,” Ravichandran said, adding that many were found not wearing face masks too. “We have directed shopowners to ensure that customers maintain a distance of at least two metres from others and asked them not to service people not maintaining social distance or not wearing masks,” he said.

E-pass must, but who’s checking?

E-pass must, but who’s checking?

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Officials quickly put in restrictions to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19, but on the ground level, rules are not properly enforced.

Though passengers arriving from other states are asked to quarantine, there is no mechanism to ensure that they stay indoors. No followup calls are made.

While government staff carry out temperature checks at the airport and at the major railway stations, they don’t check for e-passes. “No one asked for the e-pass. I did not get any calls from local authorities about quarantine. There is no point in making people go through the exercise of applying for an e-pass if it is not going to be checked,” said Lakshmi Subramanian, who arrived from Mumbai on Friday. An airline official said there is no instruction to check the e-pass of arriving passengers.

M K Ajit Kumar, who arrived from Calicut, said there was no temperature nor e-pass check at the railway station.

A railway official said e- pass check is done by the state government. “We check the temperature of all passengers who enter the stations. The government has posted staff to check the temperature of passengers at exit gates,” he added. However, the temperature check at exit gates is erratic.

Though the number of air travellers has fallen, the airport still handles more than 12,000 arrivals daily, while Chennai Central and Egmore see around 40,000 people a day.

MISCOMMUNICATION? All arrivals are asked to quarantine for up to 14 days, but there is no mechanism to ensure they do

Vivekh, 59, popular actor and green ambassador, dies in city

Vivekh, 59, popular actor and green ambassador, dies in city

Cardiac Arrest Not Related To Vaccine: Docs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Celebrated Tamil actor Vivekh known for his sharp wit and social work passed away at SIMS Hospital in the city early on Saturday. The 59-year-old actor was admited to the hospital on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.

Scores of fans bid him a tearful farewell as his body was cremated with state police’s 24-gun salute. The Tamil Nadu government said the ‘police honour’ was in recognition of his contribution to the film world and his social service. The actor is survived by his wife and two daughters. Vivekh’s teenage son had died years ago.

The Padma Shri awardee has acted in more than 200 movies along with most of the leading Kollywood stars, including Rajinikanth. He has won state awards as best comedian for movies such as “Run,”, “Anniyan” and “Sivaji”. The actor has been a life-long campaigner for planting trees through ‘green Kalam movement’ and has been the state’s ambassador for popularizing public health messages, including prevention of dengue.PM and scores of other dignitaries condoled his demise.

On Friday, he was taken to the emergency room in an unconscious state around 11am by his wife and daughter after he complained of discomfort. He underwent an angioplasty and stenting procedure and was put on ECMO support in the intensive care unit. “He passed away at 4.35am on Saturday,” said hospital vice-president Dr Raju Sivasamy. The actor had taken Covaxin at Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital on Thursday.

FINAL JOURNEY: Hundreds of fans took part in the funeral procession of actor Vivekh in Chennai on Saturday

Panel will probe possible link of actor’s death with vaccine

He told reporters that he had come to a government hospital with his team in order to encourage people to take the vaccine. The same day, for the first time the number of doses administered by the state crossed the two-lakh mark.

A committee for Adverse event following immunization (AEFI) comprising doctors and scientists will hold detailed investigation into the cause of death and its possible links with the vaccine.

The hospital said preliminary reports show the attack was not related to the vaccination, but acute coronary syndrome with a cardiogenic shock. This was the first time that the actor had come to hospital with an attack like this, Dr Sivasamy said. Vivek had a “mild elevated blood pressure.”

Hundreds of fans, actors, directors and political leaders visited his house to pay their respects. His comedy tracks were running in loop across television channels and were shared widely on social media along with condolences.

IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE: Fans of actor Vivekh queued up in front of his house to pay their respect. Some carried saplings as he was known to be nature lover and eco warrior

›END OF LAUGHTER, P 4

After 11 fresh cases, JNU advises students to leave campus

After 11 fresh cases, JNU advises students to leave campus

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi  17.04.2021 

 Jawaharlal Nehru University has again issued an advisory to its students asking them to leave for their native places in order to avoid the campus turning into a super spreader. This comes after the university got 11 positive cases on Friday.

JNU registrar Anirban Chakraborti issued the notice, stating that JNU has had 322 cases in campus, with 64 patients at present. Five people have also passed away due to Covid.

In the advisory, the registrar stated that “the predicament of students and research scholars to pursue and complete the academic assignments is understandable. However, the library, hostel mess and eateries in the campus may become super spreaders. Health should be the top priority for all of us, particularly in the face of highly infectious virus with evolving mutants. There is no place better than home for getting a safe environment and, if required, for care for the unfortunate potential victims of the pandemic.”

On Thursday, JNU had announced a vaccination drive in the campus for four days for faculty and other staff members.

Following Delhi government guidelines, the varsity had on April 6 imposed a night curfew where all dhabas and canteens were asked to shut by 9pm.

For Next Two Days, Home Is Your World

For Next Two Days, Home Is Your World

Weekend Curfew Kicks In

Sidhartha.Roy@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:17.04.2021

The weekend curfew aimed at breaking the Covid-19 infection chain means that unless you have a valid emergency or you fall in an exempted category, you can’t step out of your house till 5am on Monday.

The weekend curfew came into effect at 10pm on Friday after the city recorded its highest ever daily tally of new Covid at 19,486 and a toll of 141. Only those who are exempted from the restrictions, such as Central and Delhi government personnel, police, fire and emergency services personnel, healthcare personnel, and those engaged in electricity, water, sanitation services, etc, will be allowed on the streets on production of valid identification cards.

Fifty people will be allowed to move for weddings and 20 for funerals. Travellers going to or coming from airports, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals will be permitted to move on producing valid tickets. Pregnant women and patients will also be allowed to travel for accessing health services. Those who are engaged in other essential services such as food and grocery shops, chemists, petrol pumps, cold storage, etc. but don’t have government identity cards can apply for epasses at www.delhi.gov.in.

Delhi government clarified on Friday that those who already held a night curfew epass needn’t re-apply for a new pass, the old one being automatically considered valid during the weekend curfew. Epasses are also being issued to those going for vaccination during the weekend or attending wedding ceremonies.

Candidates sitting for any examination during the weekend can show their admit cards to be allowed to travel. Examination staff will similarly be permitted on the streets if they produce valid ID cards.

While public transport will be available for people with valid IDs or epasses, personal vehicles can expect to be stopped at pickets at regular intervals and IDs and documents scrutinised. Those found violating the curfew order will have cases registered against them and possibly face arrest too.

Shops dealing in non-essential goods will remain shut. Movement of domestic workers is prohibited too. Home delivery only of essential items will be permitted.

Apart from Delhi Police, the district authorities will oversee the strict compliance of the curfew order. A team of the New Delhi district carried a unique drive at Connaught Place on Friday with two volunteers dressing up as Yamaraj and Chitragupta and both urging people to follow Covidappropriate behaviour and stay home over the weekend.

50  PEOPLE CAN ATTEND WEDDINGS, 20 LIMIT FOR FUNERALS