AROUND TAMIL NADU

Unable to find liquor, 35-yearold drinks hand sanitizer, dies

A35-year-old Sulur resident in Coimbatore, who was addicted to alcohol, died after drinking hand sanitizer on Saturday. Police said E Bernard, an LPG cylinder delivery man, was given a bottle of hand sanitizer a couple of days back by his employer, to practice good hygiene amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Bernard, who could not buy liquor due to the lockdown, added some water to the alcohol-based hand sanitizer and drank it. He was rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital after experiencing breathing trouble around 2am on Saturday and died later. Bernard is survived by his wife B Priya and three daughters. The Sulur police have registered a case under Section 174 of CrPC.

Artists do their bit, paint roads with awareness slogans

Graffiti urging residents to stay home and practice social distancing have appeared in various spots in Trichy. Among them is a massive graffiti measuring 60ft in length and 30ft wide, painted by 25 artists in 5 hours on Salai Road junction. Trichy District Artists Association on Saturday painted four other places including Thiruverumbur, Palpannai, Srirangam and Manachanallur to spread awareness. “Medical professionals, police and sanitary workers are doing a lot to combat the deadly virus. We, for our bit, are spreading awareness through art,” V Nagendiran, district president of the artists’ association said.

Fishermen urge govt to cancel annual fishing ban this year

Fishermen, especially those working using mechanised boats, have appealed to the state government to urge the Centre to cancel the annual 61-day fishing ban this year. The fishermen have already been off the sea for a few weeks due to the Covid-19 lockdown and said are suffering from losses. The ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy on March 20 stated that the ban will be observed in two phases. The ban on all motorised fishing vessels on the east coast will be for 61 days from April 15 to June 14, while along the west coast it will be from June 1 to July 31. Only non-motorized boats are exempted from the ban. A fisheries official said, “We will enforce the ban,” hinting the banned days might be reduced.

No drinking water for 12 days, residents protest

Residents of Puliyakulam and surrounding areas in Coimbatore on Saturday staged a road roko to over delay in supply of potable water. The residents said they were not supplied drinking water for the past 12 days and that representations to civic body officials to address the issue hadn’t borne any fruit. “There has been no drinking water in common taps and household taps,” said a resident. Police, however, managed to disperse the 30-odd protesters citing the lockdown, when they were not to allowed to gather in large numbers.