FIGHTING COVID-19

Soon, private labs to be allowed to test samples

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

22.03.2020

In an effort to ensure maximum testing facilities, private labs in Tamil Nadu will soon be allowed to draw samples and test for Covid-19, health minster C Vijayabaskar told the assembly on Saturday. Permission to each of these labs will be given by the Union government.

To address the issue of cost, senior health officials said the state will fix a cap on the amount these labs can charge every patient, similar to the price cap for testing of H1N1 for all labs.

The five government labs including the King Institute for Preventive Medicine and the virology lab in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital will continue testing free of cost for all patients.

Now, all 24 government medical college hospitals in the state are allowed to draw samples from patients suspected to have Covid-19. In the past one week the state has rapidly increased the number of samples it sends to the labs for testing. Between Friday and Saturday afternoon Tamil Nadu took at least 70 more samples taking the total number of samples drawn from 333 to 412. “The strategy for testing is dynamic as the disease is new. We are now drawing more samples,” said a senior public health official.

The revised testing strategy of Covid-19, released by the ICMR on March 20, says people who show symptoms of the disease – cough, fever and breathlessness – within 14 days of international travel must be tested. Family living with patients tested positive should be tested if they show contacts. Besides this healthcare workers who are showing symptoms of the disease, all patients showing severe acute respiratory illness and asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of confirmed case (those who live in the same household as a positive patient and healthcare worker who examined a patient without adequate precaution) should be tested between day five and 14.

Beaches shut down; corpn sets up hand wash facilities

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

22.03.2020

All beaches in Greater Chennai Corporation limits have been closed to the public until further instruction. The civic body implemented the restriction from 3pm on Saturday.

The move is expected to help prevent crowds or revellers from gathering in the city as the state government has asked people to stay indoors and practice social distancing amid the Covid-19 scare.

Corporation commissioner G Prakash said that the Marina, Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar, Palavakkam and other beaches would stay shut. The beaches have also been barricaded to dissuade anyone from getting in. Beaches were the only place for people to gather in the city or take a walk or jog after parks were closed from Wednesday.

The civic body has also launched hand-washing facilities across the city from Saturday. Wash basins with tap water have been introduced in areas like Besant Nagar and Shollinganallur, said regional deputy commissioner (south) Alby John.

Liquid soap is given to people and they have been encouraged to follow the guidelines on washing hands regularly to avoid the spread of Covid-19 infection.

Awareness campaigns have also started in public places, bus stands and railway stations. Major public gathering places are being disinfected with the help of tractor-mounted cleaning machines as well as jet-rodding machines from Metrowater.

These machines have a capacity of around 9,000 litres and apart from disinfectants like Lysol, bleaching powder is also being used, a senior corporation official said.

Prakash also said that all Amma canteens, urban community health centres (UCHC) and maternity homes run by the civic body would keep functioning as usual on Sunday when a ‘janata curfew’ has been called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Conservancy operations would also continue as usual since it is an essential service, Prakash said.

It means the urban poor would get two square meals a day from Amma canteens, while garbage would also be collected from dustbins on roads and streets. Residents need not worry about garbage lying uncleared in the bins.

The corporation also announced a new helpline number for anyone residing in the civic body limits. They may call the number at any time for clarifications regarding Covid-19 and measures to be taken to prevent it. The toll free number 044-25384520 was launched on Saturday. The civic body is also running round-the-clock medical helpdesks at Dr MGR Central and Egmore railway stations.

OFF LIMITS: Marina Beach was deserted on Saturday as people stayed away to safeguard against Covid-19 infection

HC: Prolonged suspension of govt employees unfair

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.03.2020

The Madras high court has observed that the government should avoid ordering prolonged suspension of its employees, even in cases of corruption. Such suspensions would constitute a grave prejudice to the right of the citizens to have speedy trial and justice, the court said.

Unless the administration feels that an exceptionally hard and incorrigible case wherein reinstatement pending criminal/disciplinary proceeding would put the public interest completely at peril and would shake the confidence and faith of the society in public administration prolonged suspension must be avoided, Justice V Parthiban said.

The judge passed the order while allowing a plea moved by N Annapurani, who was working as an overseer with the Morappur block development office, Dharmapuri. She was placed under suspicion since November 9, 2012 in view of a pending corruption case against her.

Claiming that her suspension from service for over seven years is unjustifiable, she contended that though the complaint against her was filed in 2012 the trial commenced only in 2014, but still, it has not come to an end. Therefore, she wanted the court to direct the authorities concerned to reinstate her to service.

Allowing her plea, the court said: "When the period of suspension is more than seven years, enormous and severe anguish is experienced by the delinquent impinging upon the right of the delinquent to live with dignity and earn her livelihood."

The prolonged suspension even in matters of corruption like the present one, by itself, constitutes a grave prejudice to the right of the citizens to have speedy trial and justice, the judge said.

Justice Parthiban added that such prolonged suspension would by itself cast stigma on the delinquent concerned and the stigma would prolong as long as the suspension order operates without any finality to the allegation being enquired into against the delinquent concerned.

Such delay in judicial proceedings casts a shadow on the government servants' character and integrity on one hand and on the other, the subsistence allowance which is required under law to be paid to the suspended employee would be a loss to the public exchequer, as the suspended government servants draw their subsistence allowance without any corresponding duty to work and earn their livelihood, the court concluded.

The prolonged suspension even in matters of corruption constitutes a grave prejudice to the right of the citizens to have speedy trial and justice, the judge observed

HC judge donates month’s salary for unorganised sector

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.03.2020

In a bid to help the government take care of the marginalised sections of society, particularly those in unorganised sectors who would lose income due to Covid-19 outbreak, Justice S M Subramaniam of the Madras high court has donated one month’s salary to the government.

On Saturday, Justice Subramaniam met the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu at the secretariat and handed over the cheque for Rs 2.25 lakh in person.

Speaking to TOI, Justice Subramaniam said: "People in unorganised sector would be affected more if the lockdowns to contain Covid-19 is prolonged. We don't know for how many days or months the situation will be dragged. In such circumstances, only the government must feed the marginalised. I don't think government alone could do this. Therefore, people who are employed in organised sectors, who draw monthly salary and rich should contribute to help the poor."

The judge said,"Since, so far, no one has come forward to begin the initiative, I decided to take the first step and donate my one-month salary. I thought this would be a message to encourage people like actors, politicians and rich to contribute," Justice Subramaniam added.

Though his take home salary would be lesser after deductions, Justice Subramaniam has decided to donate his gross monthly salary.

SOCIAL DISTANCING, virtual togetherness

From Virtual Birthday Parties To Online Multiplayer Games — During The Pandemic, Technology Is Helping People To Remain Together Even When They Are Apart

Priya.Menon@timesgroup.com  22.03.2020

On Friday night, Ramya Cotah got ready to meet friends. But instead of heading to the nearest pub, she logged on to Zoom to join an ‘Online Covid-19 quarantine party’, where she and 15 of her former schoolmates partied the night away.

“My friend Sathya Xavier had just become a doctor, and another, Adithya Gopi, had released a music album.we wanted to celebrate it,” says Ramya, adding that all of them were dressed for a night out and had their food and drinks with them. After days of being cooped up at home, I had a really good evening.”

With social distancing being seen as the biggest factor, which can help prevent the spread of Covid-19, many people in the city have ceased to have a social life. Eating out, shopping, and having a drink with friends — things which people took for granted, are no longer the norm, which in turn is creating a sense of social isolation. But with technology available at fingertips, people are coming up with ways to remain together, though they are apart.

The party to celebrate self-isolation, for instance, was the idea of Denmarkbased Karan Rajan. “He is a professional shuttle player but can’t step out of his house. So he decided to organise an online party for schoolmates, who are all confined to home in different places?” says Mishal Ahamed, 24, who helped Karan organise it. “We had a quiz about embarrassing things that had happened in school and played games like Taboo.”

In another part of Chennai, Akhila Krishnamurthy’s son Aryan Varadvangal turned six a few days ago. Unlike the previous birthdays, this time there were no elaborate decorations, or friends milling around. But the day was still full of cheer, as friends sent audio and video messages, and relatives joined in the celebrations virtually.

“We had planned to have a party but I called it off 10 days ago,” says Akhila. “Usually, on the birthday eve we start celebrations, but this time even my father, who wasn’t keeping too well, chose to dial in.” She also baked a cake for her son for the first time. “My husband got balloons and my son pumped them up a day before so he woke up to a room filled with them. And we realised it takes so little to make a child happy.”

Assistant director Richard Anthony and his friends have been catching up on music, making and sharing playlists with each other as they can’t gather for a show or meet in clubs. “My friend Pranathi has made a playlist ‘Love in the time of corona’,” says Richard, who is working on his playlist, ‘We are in this together ’. Richard, who was not really into making video calls, has been using it more now to stay connected with his former schoolmates and to jam with his cinematographer friend. “We use each other as sounding boards whenever we come up with a story we want to work on. Usually we meet for a drink but this time we discussed it over a video chat and it was as engaging.”

With schools closed and parents restricting outdoor activity, online multiplayer games are the answer for bored teens. “I like badminton but now, I use the PS4 to play with friends. If it’s three or four of us, we play ‘Fortnite’, which is a shooting game, but instead of playing individually I prefer to play the ‘Creative’ version of the game where all my friends join in. Then we are in a virtual world together, playing the same game,” says 14-year-old Tanveer Singh Sethi.

In these difficult times, it’s good to spread cheer, and Sakthivel Pannerselvam, who runs surprise planning company the6.in has come up with a way to do that, virtually. “We are now offering virtual surprises,” he says. For instance, many of his clients want to surprise the women in their lives by getting a guitarist and a singer to show up at her door and perform just for her. “We are still offering the same service but now, the musicians perform virtually,” says Sakthivel.

FAR BUT NEAR:

Aryan’s friends sent video messages on his birthday

I LIKE BADMINTON BUT NOW, I USE THE PS4 TO PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS. IF IT’S THREE OR FOUR OF US, WE PLAY ‘FORTNITE’, AN ONLINE GAME – Tanveer Singh Sethi | TEENAGER

Flyers to be sent home in minibuses

Those To Be Quarantined At Home Will Be Stamped

Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai:22.03.2020

Passengers landing at Chennai airport henceforth will not be allowed to hire a taxi or board metro rail trains. Instead, they will have to board minibuses stationed at the airport to reach their destinations. Those who need to be home-quarantined will be stamped as is being done at other airports.

This is part of the state government’s measures to prevent spread of Covid-19 and track and monitor air passengers arriving from other cities in the country.

Health minister C Vijayabaskar said in the assembly that passengers having personal vehicles can use them to leave the airport. “When a passenger uses a taxi, we are unable to track where all he has gone and who all he or she has met. To make tracking of passengers possible, hereafter, they will have to use the mini buses stationed at the airport to go to their destinations,” he said.

“We have started stamping at Madurai airport and the same will be done at all other airports in the state," he added while detailing the preventive measures to be taken to fight the spread of Covid-19.

Chennai airport records around 16,000 passengers per day at the domestic terminal. There will be no international flights at the airport from Sunday.

Around five minibuses will be arranged to ferry passengers to hotels or their residences. Passenger arrivals have dropped considerably in the last few days. Usually, around 10% of the domestic arrival travel by cabs, the rest go by private cars and metro rail trains, said an official.

However, airport officials said implementing this will be chaotic because no one would want to travel by mini buses to their houses.

The minister said screening of passengers at railway stations was tough as the crowd is huge. “We have seven testing centres at Chennai Central. Similar facilities are available at Egmore and Tambaram stations also. But it is difficult to screen and track each and every passenger,” said Vijayabaskar.

He was replying to the leader of opposition, M K Stalin, who wanted to know the steps taken by the government to prevent spread of the virus.

CHECKING THE SPREAD: Around five minibuses will be arranged to ferry passengers to hotels or their residences. Passenger arrivals have dropped considerably over the past few days

Metro rail to curtail services between March 23 and 31

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.03.2020

Chennai Metro Rail will curtail services between March 23 and 31 to discourage commuters from undertaking non-essential travel and to protect themselves from Covid-19. CMRL will operate only 25 trains instead of 35 between 6am and 10am and from 4pm to 8pm. Services will not be available for the rest of the day.

A metro rail official said trains will operate from 6am to 10am and from 4pm to 8pm only for people on essential services. Trains will operate with a seven-minute frequency on both the corridors from Washermenpet to Airport and from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount. Trains operating between Chennai Central and Airport via Koyambedu will be available every 14 minutes. Trains will not operate from 4.30am to 6am, 10am to 4pm and from 8pm to 11pm. The change in train timings was made following instructions from the ministry of housing and urban affairs.

“We want to suspend services completely for a week. But we want to facilitate the use of our servicesby those in the essential services sector like corporation workers, doctors and policemen,” the official said. “As the change in the services was based on the instruction from the Ministry, all metros across the country may curtail services,” he added.

Earlier, metro rail decided to reduce peak hour frequency from five minutes to seven minutes and cut down on the number of trains on operations to 25 from 35, as footfalls dropped by 50% and they needed time to clean and sanitize the trains at the end of every trip. The daily average patronage was at 1.2 lakhs and officials said it has dropped since last week after schools and colleges were shut and office-goers started to work from home.

CMRL has started cleaning and disinfecting its trains on operations at Chennai Central and Airport metro stations, as they are the originating and terminating stations. “We need three to four minutes to disinfect trains with the approved chemicals effective against Covid-19,” the official said.

Stations are also disinfected periodically, while staff are provided protective gear like hand gloves and face masks and are instructed to screen passengers for body temperature with a thermometer gun before they board trains.

Skip air travel today as airlines cut services for ‘janata curfew’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

22.03.2020

If you are planning to fly out of the city on Sunday, think again. For, it will be prudent to avoid air travel since airlines have cut down on domestic services following the call for ‘janata curfew’ across the country.

Besides, reaching the airport too could be tough since metro rail and MTC buses have cancelled services. App-cab firms have sent out messages to residents that only a limited number of cabs will be available.

An airport official said that barring early morning flights, schedules are expected to be affected because of cancellations on Sunday.

IndiGo, GoAir and SpiceJet have announced that they will cut down on their schedule on Sunday even as the airport is struggling due to low footfalls.

In a statement, GoAir said it will voluntarily suspend all flights on Sunday for the ‘janata curfew’. However, the airline will protect all PNRs dated March 22 for a period of one year under the “Protect Your PNR” scheme. Passengers may contact GoAir any time over the next year to redeem their ticket on any flight on any date with no charges being levied.

An airport official said that passengers should check their flight status before travelling to the airport. On Saturday, around 30 departures were cancelled with most being domestic flights to Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trichy, Madurai and a few other destinations because of low patronage. On Friday, the airport witnessed its lowest footfall.

Retd, pvt doctors urged to pitch in

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  22.03.2020

As the number of Covid-19 positive cases rose to six on Saturday, health minister C Vijayabaskar called upon retired government and private doctors to help the government screen patients at places, including airports, border districts and quarantine centres. The number of people in home quarantine and hospital isolation doubled as well.

The state government has about 20,000 doctors in three directorates – medical services, medical education and public health – who can all be deputed to handle emergencies, without compromising on other healthcare services.

“But our state has some great doctors who can be of help to us. We want them to volunteer their time during the crisis,” he said. As a practice, the state ties up with private doctors to deal with complex surgeries or advanced procedures. Some hospitals have asked retired professors to join them as honorary professors to train students and faculty members.

As per Tamil Nadu Medical Council records, there has at least 1.45 lakh doctors on the state registry. About 25,000 doctors are aged over 60. “It’s a pandemic and most doctors would be willing to help the government,” said council president Dr K Senthil.

The state has already asked private hospitals to set aside beds, keep human resources, including doctors, nurses and other paramedics, to triple the existing facilities. “We are setting aside beds, critical care facilities exclusively for this,” he said.

Three new cases in state, total Covid-19 patients six

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.03.2020

Three more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to six, state health minister C Vijayabaskar said. While two of them are Thai nationals, the third, a 65-year-old man, had returned from New Zealand, he said.

The three new cases sent the state Covid-19 control room into a tizzy, as authorities placed healthcare workers exposed to the positive patients under quarantine. With regard to the two Thai nationals, health workers had to scan the passenger list of a Delhi-Erode train looking for their co-passengers and to identify people who had come into contact with them during their stay in Erode mosques. Authorities have asked the mosque managers to restrict entry and undertake disinfectant protocol.

“So far we have not had any case of community transmission in our state. We are doing our best to push back the virus,” he said.

The 65-year-old, who has landed in Chennai on March 15 from New Zealand via Singapore, developed Covid-19 symptoms on March 16 and was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai the next day. “He did not have symptoms while he was on the flight or when he arrived at the airport,” officials said. After he tested positive on Saturday, nine of his family workers and 11 health workers have been advised quarantine, public health officials said.

Class X exam in state postponed

Chief minister K Palaniswami on Saturday said Class X board exams in the state scheduled between March 27 and April 13 have been postponed. However, exams for Class XI scheduled for March 23 and 26 and Class 12 exam slated for March 24 would be held as per schedule, the CM told the Tamil Nadu assembly. About 9.45 lakh students will sit for Class X boards this year. P 2

TN woman treated in Covid ward dies

A 59-year-old suspected Covid-19 patient died at Kanyakumari GH on Saturday night. “The woman had no travel history. She came in a critical condition from a private hospital. She had suffered a left-ventricular heart failure. Her body will be kept in the hospital mortuary till results for Covid-19 investigations are received,” said Kanyakumari GH Dean, Dr R Suganthy.

Bigger worry for public health dept is the case history of two Thai nationals

The condition of the patient was stable, and none of the contacts has shown symptoms of the disease so far, they said.

A bigger worry for the public health department is the case history of the two Thai nationals, now under treatment at IRT Perundurai. The two were among seven Thai nationals who travelled to Erode from Thailand. While one of them died in coimbatore last week, these two have tested positive for covid-19 now.

“These two arrived in New Delhi on March 6. They were going around the capital for about four days and boarded the Millennium express to Erode on March 10,” officials said. After they reached Erode, they spent time in at least three mosques until March15.

When the 49-year-old Thailand national died at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) last week, doctors said he had complications of diabetic nephropathy, sepsis and pulmonary oedema.

However, after the death these two were brought under custody and isolated at IRT hospital, Perundurai. Their samples were taken on March 17 and they tested positive on Saturday.

The department has sought information from the Railways about the passengers who travelled with them on the same coach. Health officials are also visiting the mosques to quarantine maulvis and workers in the mosque.

It’s not just the number of cases that doubled, everything from the number of people in hospital isolation to home quarantine nearly doubled since Friday. “I am scared about this virus,” said health minister C Vijayabaskar.

“Doctors like us usually do not talk about fear. But the news about the pandemic in countries like Italy is scary. I saw images of Army waiting to clear bodies of the dead,” he said. “We don’t have to get there. We can stop the spread if we are careful now. People must follow social distancing,” he said. On Saturday, the number of people who were put on home quarantine went up to 8,950 from 4,253.

Full report on www.toi.in

கோழிக் கறி விலை கடும் சரிவு: ராசிபுரம் பகுதியில் 5 கிலோ ரூ.100-க்கு விற்பனை
By DIN | Published on : 21st March 2020 06:20 AM |

கோழி இறைச்சிக் கடையில் மலிவு விலையில் இறைச்சி வாங்க வந்த மக்கள்.

கரோனா வைரஸ், பறவைக் காய்ச்சல் பீதி காரணமாக கறிக்கோழி, முட்டை விலை கடும் வீழ்ச்சியடைந்துள்ளது. இதன் காரணமாக கோழி வளா்ப்பு, முட்டை உற்பத்தி தொழிலில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளோரும் கடும் பாதிப்பைச் சந்தித்து வருகின்றனா்.

இதனால் நாமக்கல் மாவட்டத்தில் நாள்தோறும் உற்பத்தியாகும் சுமாா் 3 கோடி முட்டைகள் தேக்கமடைந்து வருகின்றன. மேலும், முட்டை விலை ரூ.1.95 ஆகக் குறைந்தது. இந்த நிலையில், கோழி இறைச்சிப் பயன்படுத்துவோா் குறைந்துள்ளதால், அதன் விலையிலும் கடும் வீழ்ச்சியடைந்துள்ளது.

ராசிபுரம் சுற்று வட்டாரத்தில் பல்வேறு பகுதியில் ரூ.120 முதல் ரூ.150 வரை விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டு வந்த கோழி இறைச்சி விலையில் சரிவு ஏற்பட்டு, கிலோ ரூ.30 முதல் ரூ.40 வரை மட்டுமே விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இதன் உச்சமாக ராசிபுரம் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதியில் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை கிலோ ரூ.20 என்ற விலையில், அதாவது 5 கிலோ கோழி இறைச்சி ரூ. 100க்கு விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டது. பொதுமக்களிடம் கோழி இறைச்சியால் கரோனோ வைரஸ் பரவுவதில்லை என்று விழிப்புணா்வு ஏற்படுத்தவும், இறைச்சி பயன்படுத்துவதை அதிகரிக்கவும் இதுபோன்ற குறைந்த விலைக்கு விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக கோழி இறைச்சி விற்பனையாளா்கள் தெரிவித்தனா்.

இந்த விலைக் குறைப்பு தொடா்ந்து 3 நாள்களுக்கு அமலில் இருக்கும் என்றும் அவா்கள் தெரிவித்தனா். விலைக் குறைப்பு இவ்வாறு இருப்பினும், பொதுமக்கள் இறைச்சி வாங்குவது குறைவாகவே இருந்து வருகிறது. இந்த நிலையில், நாட்டுக்கோழி ஆட்டு இறைச்சி விலை குறைக்கப்படவில்லை என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

இதேபோல் சில்லி சிக்கன் கிலோ ரூ.300-க்கு விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டு வந்த நிலையில், தற்போது கிலோ ரூ.100-க்கு விற்கப்படுகிறது.

வேளாங்கண்ணி புனித ஆரோக்கிய அன்னை பேராலயம் மூடல்

By DIN | Published on : 21st March 2020 06:30 AM |

பேராலயம் மூடப்பட்டதால் வெறிச்சோடியிருந்த வேளாங்கண்ணி பேராலயப் பகுதிகள்.

கரோனா வைரஸ் தடுப்பு முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கை காரணமாக நாகை மாவட்டம் வேளாங்கண்ணி புனித ஆரோக்கிய அன்னை பேராலயம் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை மூடப்பட்டது.

கரோனா வைரஸ் பரவுதலை தடுக்கும் வகையில் தமிழகத்தில் இந்து சமய அறநிலையத் துறைக்குச் சொந்தமான பிரதான கோயில்களில் பக்தா்களின் தரிசனத்தை ரத்து செய்தும், தேவாலயங்கள் மற்றும் தா்காக்களில் மாா்ச் 31ஆம் தேதி வரை பொதுமக்கள் வருகையை தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தி வைக்க அறிவுரை வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் தமிழக அரசு வியாழக்கிழமை அறிவிப்பு வெளியிட்டது.

இந்நிலையில், உலக புகழ் பெற்ற கிறிஸ்தவ வழிபாட்டுத் தலங்களுள் ஒன்றாகவும், நாகை மாவட்டத்தின் முக்கிய சுற்றுலாத் தலமாகவும் உள்ள வேளாங்கண்ணி புனித ஆரோக்கிய அன்னை பேராலயத்துக்கு வருகை தரும் பக்தா்களின் வருகையைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தும் வகையில், வேளாங்கண்ணியில் உள்ள தனியாா் விடுதிகளை தற்காலிகமாக மூடுமாறு மாவட்ட நிா்வாகம் வியாழக்கிழமை அறிவுறுத்தியது.

மேலும், நாகை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியா் பிரவீன் பி. நாயா், வேளாங்கண்ணி பேராலய அதிபா் ஏ.எம்.ஏ. பிரபாகா் மற்றும் பேராலய நிா்வாகிகளைச் சந்தித்து, பேராலயத்தில் பக்தா்களின் வழிபாட்டை தற்காலிகமாக ரத்து செய்யவும் வியாழக்கிழமை மாலை கேட்டுக்கொண்டாா்.

இந்நிலையில், நாகை மாவட்டம், வேளாங்கண்ணி புனித ஆரோக்கிய அன்னை பேராலயம் மற்றும் பேராலயத்தைச் சாா்ந்த ஆலயங்கள் தற்காலிகமாக மக்கள் வழிபாட்டுக்கு மூடப்படுகிறது எனவும், மறுஅறிவிப்பு வரும் வரை பேராலயத்தில் பொது வழிபாடுகள் எதுவும் நடைபெறாது எனவும் பேராலய நிா்வாகம் அறிவித்தது.

இதைத்தொடா்ந்து, வெள்ளிக்கிழமை காலை 8.30 மணி அளவில் பேராலயத்தின் அனைத்துக் கதவுகளும் அடைக்கப்பட்டன. கிறிஸ்தவா்களின் தவக்காலம் நடைபெற்று வரும் நிலையில் பேராலயம் மூடப்பட்டுள்ளது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

பேராலயம் மூடப்பட்ட அறிவிப்பை அறியாமல் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை பேராலயத்துக்கு வந்த மிகக் குறைந்த எண்ணிக்கையிலான பக்தா்கள், பேராலயத்துக்கு வெளியில் நின்று புனித ஆரோக்கிய அன்னையை வழிபட்டுச் சென்றனா்.

பேராலய சுற்றுப் பகுதிகள் மற்றும் கடற்கரை என வேளாங்கண்ணியின் அனைத்துப் பகுதிகளும் மக்கள் கூட்டமின்றி வெறிச்சோடி காணப்பட்டது.

நாகூா் ஆண்டவா் தா்கா மூடல்: 463 ஆண்டுகளில் முதல் முறையாக கதவுகள் அடைப்பு

By DIN | Published on : 21st March 2020 06:28 AM |



நாகூரில் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை மாலை அடைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த நாகூா் ஆண்டவா் தா்காவின் தலைமாட்டு வாசல்.

கரோனா வைரஸ் தடுப்பு முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கையாக நாகையை அடுத்த நாகூரில் உள்ள பாதுஷா சாகிபு ஆண்டவா் தா்கா 463 ஆண்டுகளில் முதல் முறையாக வெள்ளிக்கிழமை மாலை மூடப்பட்டது.


கரோனா வைரஸ் தடுப்பு முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கையாக, அனைத்து மத வழிபாட்டுத் தலங்களும் பக்தா்களின் வருகையை தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்த நடவடிக்கை எடுக்குமாறு தமிழக அரசு வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்திருந்தது.

இதன்படி, நாகையை அடுத்த நாகூரில் உள்ள உலக புகழ்ப் பெற்ற தா்காக்களுள் ஒன்றான நாகூா் பாதுஷா சாகிபு ஆண்டவா் தா்காவில் பக்தா்களின் வருகைக்கு வெள்ளிக்கிழமை முதல் தடைவிதித்து, தா்கா நிா்வாகம் அறிவிப்பு வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

மாா்ச் 31 -ஆம் தேதி வரை நாகூா் தா்காவில் பக்தா்கள் மற்றும் பொதுமக்கள் யாரும் அனுமதிக்கப்படமாட்டாா்கள் எனவும், பொதுமக்கள் அனைவரும் அரசுக்கும், நிா்வாகத்துக்கும் ஒத்துழைப்பு அளிக்குமாறும் அந்த அறிவிப்பில் கேட்டுக்கொள்ளப்பட்டிருந்தது.

இந்த அறிவிப்பு, நாகூா் தா்காவின் பிரதான வாயில் பகுதியில் ஒட்டப்பட்டது. பின்னா், தா்காவில் தங்கியிருந்த அனைத்து பக்தா்களும் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை மாலை வெளியேற்றப்பட்டு, தா்காவின் வாசல் தலைமாட்டு வாசல், கால்மாட்டு வாசல், கிழக்கு வாசல் ஆகிய வாசல் கதவுகள் அடைக்கப்பட்டன.

நாகூா் ஆண்டவா் தா்காவின் 463 ஆண்டுகால வரலாற்றில் பக்தா்கள் அனைவரும் வெளியேற்றப்பட்டு, கதவுகள் அடைக்கப்பட்டது இதுவே முதல் முறை எனப்படுகிறது.

மக்கள் சுய ஊரடங்கு! | ஊரடங்கு விழிப்புணர்வு குறித்த தலையங்கம்

By ஆசிரியர் | Published on : 21st March 2020 04:57 AM 

ஏறத்தாழ மூன்று மாதங்கள் கடந்தும்கூட கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று குறித்து இன்னும் முழுமையான புரிதல் இல்லாத நிலை தொடர்கிறது. எந்த அளவுக்கு இந்த நோய்த்தொற்று பரவும், எத்தனை பேர் பாதிக்கப்படப் போகிறார்கள், எத்தனை உயிரிழப்புகளை மனித இனம் எதிர்கொள்ளும், எப்போது, எப்படி, எதனால் இது முடிவுக்குக் கொண்டுவரப்படும் என்பது குறித்து யாராலும், எதுவுமே கணிக்க முடியவில்லை.

பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடி வியாழக்கிழமை அன்று நேரடியாக மக்களுக்கு ஆற்றிய உரையில், உலகமும் இந்தியாவும் எதிர்கொள்ளும் கடுமையான சவால்களைத் தெளிவாகச் சுட்டிக்காட்டினார். இந்த நோய்த்தொற்றை எதிர்கொள்வதற்கு நமக்கு எந்த அளவுக்கு மனத் துணிவும், சமூக அளவிலான கட்டுப்பாடும், ஒற்றுமையும் தேவை என்பதைத் தெளிவாகவே தனது உரையில் குறிப்பிட்டார். கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்றை ஒருங்கிணைந்து எதிர்கொள்வதில் இந்தியா தெளிவாகவும், திண்ணமாகவும் இருப்பதை வெளிப்படுத்தும் வகையில் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை (மார்ச் 22) "மக்கள் சுய ஊரடங்கு'க்கு பிரதமர் விடுத்திருக்கும் வேண்டுகோள் ஒரு வகையில் தொலைநோக்குச் சிந்தனையுடன் கூடிய அறைகூவல் என்றும் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளலாம்.

உலகம் இதுவரை இல்லாத ஒரு சூழலை எதிர்கொள்கிறது என்பதைச் சரியாகவே சுட்டிக்காட்டியது பிரதமரின் உரை. கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்றால் தாங்கள் பாதிக்கப்பட மாட்டோம் என்கிற அசட்டுத்தனமான நம்பிக்கையுடன் மக்கள் மெத்தனமாக இருந்துவிடக் கூடாது என்றும், அதே நேரத்தில் அநாவசிய பீதி தேவையில்லை என்றும் பிரதமர் தனது உரையில் குறிப்பிட்டவை ஒவ்வோர் இந்தியரும் உணர்ந்து செயல்பட வேண்டிய கருத்துகள்.

"மக்கள் சுய ஊரடங்கு' மூலம் கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்றுச் சவாலை எதிர்கொள்ள இந்தியா ஒருங்கிணைந்து தயாராக இருக்கிறது என்பதை, ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை மக்கள் வெளியே வராமல் உணர்த்த வேண்டும் என்று வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்திருக்கிறார் பிரதமர். இக்கட்டான சூழ்நிலையிலும் தங்களது கடமையைச் செய்துவரும் மருத்துவர்கள், செவிலியர்கள், மருத்துவ ஊழியர்கள், அத்தியாவசியப் பொருள்களை விநியோகிப்பவர்கள், செய்தியாளர்கள் ஆகியோரின் பங்களிப்பைப் போற்றும் வகையில் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை மாலை 5 மணிக்கு அவரவர் இருக்கும் இடத்தில் எழுந்து நின்று கரகோஷம் செய்து பாராட்டப் பணித்திருப்பதை "தினமணி'யும் வழிமொழிகிறது. 

சீனாவின் பிரச்னையாக உருவான கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று இப்போது சர்வதேசப் பிரச்னை, இந்தியாவின் பிரச்னையும்கூட. இந்தியாவின் சவால் பொருளாதார ரீதியிலானது மட்டுமல்ல, சுகாதார ரீதியிலானதும்கூட. இப்போதுதான் நாம் இந்த நோய்த்தொற்றை எதிர்கொள்வதற்கான அனைத்து முயற்சிகளிலும் முழுமூச்சுடன் இறங்கியிருக்கிறோம். ஆனால், "கொவைட் 19' நோய்த்தொற்றால் ஏற்பட இருக்கும் பொருளாதாரத் தாக்கத்தால் பாதிக்கப்படப் போகிறோம் என்பதை ஒவ்வோர் இந்தியரும் நினைவில் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

உலகிலுள்ள எல்லா நாடுகளும் எல்லைகளை மூடிவிட்டன. அனைத்துப் பெரிய நகரங்களும், பகுதிகளும் அநேகமாக முடக்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. கோடிக்கணக்கான மக்கள் ஏற்கெனவே தங்களைத் தாங்களே வீட்டுச் சிறையில் அடைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள். 

பொது இடங்கள் மூடப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன, பண்டிகைகள் தவிர்க்கப்படுகின்றன, திருவிழாக்கள் நடத்தப்படுவதில்லை. இரண்டாம் உலகப் போருக்குப் பிறகு இதுபோல உலக அளவில் அன்றாட வாழ்க்கை பாதித்த இன்னொரு நிகழ்வு இல்லை என்கிற நிலை ஏற்பட்டிருக்கிறது. 

மக்களின் அன்றாடச் செயல்பாடுகள் முடக்கப்பட்டதன் விளைவாக பொருளாதாரம் தடம் புரண்டிருக்கிறது. உலகிலுள்ள ஒவ்வொரு நாடும் கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்றால் ஏற்பட்டிருக்கும் பொருளாதார, சுகாதாரச் சவால்களை எதிர்கொள்வதில் ஈடுபட்டிருக்கும்போது இந்தியா மெத்தனமாக இருந்துவிட முடியாது.

சுகாதார நடவடிக்கைகளுக்கு முன்னுரிமை தரப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதில் யாருக்கும் மாற்றுக் கருத்து இருக்க முடியாது. நோயாளிகளை அடையாளம் காண்பதிலும், சோதனை நடத்துவதிலும், சிகிச்சை அளிப்பதிலும் ஈடுபடும் அரசு ஊழியர்களும், மருத்துவத் துறையினரும் பதற்றம் இல்லாமல் பொறுமையைக் கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டியது மிகமிக அவசியம். வெளிநாடுகளிலிருந்து வரும் பயணிகள் விமான நிலையங்களில் எதிர்கொள்ளும் இரக்கமில்லாத வரவேற்பும், உள்ளூர்ப் பயணிகள் ரயில் நிலையங்களில் எதிர்கொள்ளும் இயந்திரத்தனமான சோதனைகளும் தவிர்க்கப்பட வேண்டும். இவை மக்கள் மத்தியில் நோய்த்தொற்றை எதிர்கொள்வதற்கு எதிரான மனநிலையை உருவாக்கி நோய் பரவுவதற்கு வழிகோலிவிடும். 

எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் மேலாக உற்பத்தி குறையும், சில்லறை விற்பனை குறையும், சேவைத் துறை முடங்கும், வேலையில்லாத் திண்டாட்டம் அதிகரிக்கும்; போக்குவரத்து, சுற்றுலா, விடுதிகள் முதலானவை செயலிழக்கும். நோய்த்தொற்று கிராமப்புறங்களுக்கு பரவினால் விவசாயம் தொடர்பான பணிகள் பாதிக்கப்படும். எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் மேலாக, தினக்கூலித் தொழிலாளர்களும், அமைப்புசாரா பணிகளில் ஈடுபடுபவர்களும் கடுமையாகப் பாதிக்கப்பட இருக்கிறார்கள். அவர்களுக்கு எந்தவித சமூகப் பாதுகாப்பும் இல்லை என்பதை அரசு உணர வேண்டும்.

பிரதமரைப் போலவே மாநில முதல்வர்களும் தொலைத்தொடர்புத் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி ஒருங்கிணைந்து கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்றை எதிர்கொள்ள மக்கள் மன்றத்திற்கு வேண்டுகோள் விடுப்பதும், அவர்களின் அன்றாட வாழ்க்கை பாதிக்காமல் இருப்பதை அரசு உறுதிப்படுத்தும் என்கிற நம்பிக்கையை ஏற்படுத்துவதும் அவசியம்.

சென்னைக்கு வந்து செல்லும் 118 விமான சேவைகள் ரத்து

Added : மார் 21, 2020 01:20

சென்னை : பயணியர் வருகை குறைவு மற்றும் கொரோனா வைரஸ் பீதி காரணமாக, சென்னைக்கு வந்து செல்லும், 118 பன்னாட்டு மற்றும் உள்நாட்டு விமான சேவைகள், நேற்று ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன.

கொரோனா வைரஸ் தாக்குதல் பீதி காரணமாக, சென்னைக்கு வந்து செல்லும், உள்நாட்டு மற்றும்பன்னாட்டு விமான பயணியர் எண்ணிக்கை வெகுவாக குறைந்துள்ளது. இதனால், சென்னைக்கு வந்து செல்லும், 58 பன்னாட்டு விமான சேவைகள்,நேற்று ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன.குறிப்பாக, இலங்கை -சென்னை, 6; மலேசியா - சென்னை, 6; மஸ்கட் - சென்னை, 3; குவைத் - சென்னை, 3; துபாய் - சென்னை, தாய்லாந்து - சென்னை, 2; ஹாங்காங், தோகா, சிங்கப்பூர்.பஹ்ரைன், பிராங்க்பர்ட், ஷார்ஜா, மொரீஷியஸ் நகரங்களில் இருந்து வரும், தலா ஒரு விமான சேவை என, இரு மார்க்கங்களிலும், 58 பன்னாட்டு விமான சேவைகள், நேற்று ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன.

இதேபோல, உள்நாட்டு விமான சேவையிலும், சென்னையில் இருந்து மும்பை, டில்லி, பெங்களூரு, மதுரை, ஐதராபாத், கோவை, ஷீரடி, புனே, திருவனந்தபுரம், கொச்சி, கோவா, கோல்கட்டா.துாத்துக்குடி, மங்களூரு, திருச்சி ஆகிய நகரங்களுக்கு செல்லும் மற்றும் அந்த நகரங்களில் இருந்து சென்னைக்கு வரும், 60 விமானங்களின் சேவைகள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்ட

மருத்துவம் சார்ந்த படிப்பு மாணவர்களுக்கு விடுமுறை

Added : மார் 21, 2020 02:03

சென்னை : தமிழகத்தில், மருத்துவம் சார்ந்த, துணை படிப்புகள்படிக்கும் மாணவர்களுக்கு, வரும், 31ம் தேதி வரை விடுமுறை அளித்து, தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை அறிவித்துள்ளது.

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை பதிவாளர், அஸ்வத் நாராயணன் வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிவிப்பு:கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவல் தடுப்பு, முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கையாக, பல்கலை இணைப்பு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் உள்ள, பி.எஸ்சி., - எம்.எஸ்சி., - டிப்ளமோ உள்ளிட்ட, மருத்துவம் சார்ந்த துணை படிப்புகள் பயில்வோருக்கு, வரும், 31ம் தேதி வரை விடுமுறை அளிக்கப்படுகிறது.இந்த படிப்புகளில் செய்முறை, நடைமுறை தேர்வுகள் ஏற்கனவே அறிவித்தபடி நடைபெறும். தேர்வுகள் நடைபெறும் போது, மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் வழங்கியுள்ள, பொதுநல அறிவிப்புகளை கடைபிடிக்க வேண்டும்.அதேபோல், பி.பார்ம்., படிப்புகளுக்கு, முதல் மற்றும் மூன்றாம் பருவ தேர்வுகள், வரும், 30ம் தேதி நடைபெறுவதாக இருந்தது. அவை மாற்றி அமைக்கப்பட்டு, ஏப்., 15 முதல் தேர்வுகள் துவங்க உத்தேசிக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

'டாஸ்மாக்' கடையில் இடைவெளி கோடு

Added : மார் 21, 2020 00:39

ஈரோடு : மொடக்குறிச்சி அருகே, கொரோனா வைரஸ்பரவாமல் தடுக்க, 'டாஸ்மாக்' மதுக்கடையில், ஒரு மீட்டர் இடைவெளியில், கோடு வரையப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவலை தடுக்க, தமிழகம் முழுவதும், டாஸ்மாக் பார்களை மூட, அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. ஆனாலும், மதுக்கடைகளை மூடவில்லை. இந்நிலையில், டாஸ்மாக் கடைகளில் கூட்டம் அதிகரித்துள்ளதால், கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவும் என்ற, அச்சம் எழுந்துள்ளது. அதை போக்கும் வகையில், ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், மொடக்குறிச்சி அருகே, குளூர் சாலையில் உள்ள டாஸ்மாக் கடையில், ஒரு மீட்டருக்கு ஒரு கோடு என, வெள்ளை சுண்ணாம்பில் கோடு போட்டுள்ளனர்.

மது வாங்க வருவோர், ஒரு மீட்டர் இடைவெளியில் நின்று வாங்கிச் செல்கின்றனர். குடிமகன்களும் ஒத்துழைப்பு தருவதால், கொரோனா வைரஸ் தொற்று அச்சம் போக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக, கடை ஊழியர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

வெறிச்சோடிய திருப்பதி...

Updated : மார் 20, 2020 15:03 | Added : மார் 20, 2020 15:01 |

திருப்பதி: கொரோனா வைரஸ் அச்சுறுத்தல் காரணமாக பக்தர்கள், கோயிலுக்கு வருவதற்கு திருமலை தேவஸ்தானம் தற்காலிக தடை விதித்தது. மேலும், கோயிலை மூடுவதாகவும் அறிவித்தது. இதனால், ஆண்டு முழுவதும் எப்போதும் பரபரப்பாக காணப்படும் திருப்பதியில், பக்தர்கள் கூட்டமின்றி வெறிச்சோடி காணப்படுகிறது. இதனை பார்ப்பதற்கு மனதிற்கு ஏதோ மாதிரியாக உள்ளதாக பக்தர்கள் வேதனையுடன் தெரிவித்தனர்.

Theni district to get a veterinary college

21/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

A new veterinary college will be opened in Theni district, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced in the State Assembly on Friday.

Making a suo motu statement in the House, Mr. Palaniswami said the veterinary hospital at Nagercoil would be upgraded to a superspeciality veterinary hospital. He announced that 40 veterinary centres would be set up across the State.

Mr. Palaniswami announced allocation of ₹14.73 crore for encouraging beneficiaries for rearing country hens.

The Chief Minister said 35 government middle schools would be upgraded into high schools and 20 government high schools would be upgraded into higher secondary schools during the upcoming academic year.

On March 13, the Chief Minister announced in the House that 15 government middle schools would be upgraded into high schools and 30 government high schools would be upgraded into higher secondary schools. The new announcement followed request from parents and various other quarters, he added.

All shops, except pharmacies, to remain closed on Sunday

Restaurants have decided to join the curfew

21/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNNAI

The Koyambedu wholesale market complex will remain closed on Sunday, in view of the nationwide people’s curfew announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday night, as a measure to combat COVID-19.

About 4,500 shops in the vegetable, fruits and flowers market will be closed between Saturday midnight and Sunday night. The foodgrains market too will not function.

S. Srinivasan, president, Chennai Fruits Commission Agents’ Association, said that the market generally received about 800 lorries, every day, bringing in produce from different parts of the country.

They have been informed to refrain from visiting the market on Sunday.

“We are holding awareness programmes at the market with market management committee authorities and distributing soaps and masks. We have also sought screening facilities for COVID-19 at the market next week,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangakalin Peramaippu has asked traders in the State to support the Janata Curfew on Sunday.

“All shops, except pharmacies, will be shutdown on Sunday. There are over 21 lakh shops in the State and 4 lakh shops in the city,” said Ve. Govindrarajalu, general secretary of the Peramaippu.

Meanwhile, several city-based organisations working towards restoration of waterbodies have cancelled activities involving volunteers to commemorate World Water Day on March 22.

Environmental Foundation of India, an environmental conservation group, has stopped programmes for the last 10 days.

Arun Krishnamurthy, founder, EFI, said, “We have stopped eight events, including lake clean-ups, in the western suburbs, to ensure volunteers’ safety.”

The Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD), an all-India organisation of petrol bunks with over 54,000 outlet owners as its members, too has decided to support the Janata Curfew on Sunday.

CIPD general secretary K. Sureshkumar said that bunks would remain open with skeletal staff in case of emergencies.

The night staff will remain at the outlets and continue duty on Sunday, he added.

Restaurants have decided to join the curfew.

“When the Prime Minister gives such a call, it is our duty to join in the effort. There are around 1 lakh restaurants in the State with 50 lakh employees, all of whom will be asked to remain at home. We will shut shop on that day,” said M. Venkadasubbu, president, Tamil Nadu Hotels Association.

Lack of clarity left Indians stranded abroad

Airlines blame language of different advisories banning entry of passengers for the confusion at various airports

21/03/2020, JAGRITI CHANDRA ,SUHASINI HAIDARNEW DELHI

About time: Students stranded in Kuala Lumpur arriving at the 

Vizag airport on March 18.K. R. DEEPAK

Many Indians have been left stranded in different parts of the world owing to airlines “misinterpreting” travel advisories issued by the government, according to a senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs.

However, several airlines operating on international routes assert that the circulars lacked clarity, causing utter confusion on the ground.

“At least 20 Indians in London and 32 at Schiphol, Amsterdam, were left behind by airlines because of the misinterpretation of guidelines. Travel advisories barred the entry of passengers coming from Europe or the U.K., but airlines barred those who had travelled from Canada or the U.S. to these countries from boarding,” Dammu Ravi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, told The Hindu.

Multiple instances

He was referring to passengers transiting through the Heathrow airport in London and Schiphol in Amsterdam and being carried by foreign carriers. He added that Indian missions in these countries had requested the airlines to board these passengers but the carriers asked for a clarification in writing.

It is evident from social media accounts that such instances are not restricted to one or two countries, but are widespread. Business consultant Rajesh Saigal took to Twitter to post his appeal to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and ask how India could deny the return of its own citizens. He was offloaded by Singapore Airlines as he transited through Manila.

“Almost every country has banned tourist visas, so people have to be allowed back to their countries. I am only asking you to open your doors to Indians,” Mr. Saigal said in a video.

Transit ignored

The Hindu spoke to executives of several airlines, who blamed the language of different advisories banning entry of passengers for the chaos. A senior executive of an international airline said many advisories omitted the status of passengers in transit, i.e., those travelling from a country from where there is no ban but catching a flight from which there is, or vice versa. This led to much confusion.

For instance, a circular issued on March 16 read, “Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom to India is prohibited with effect from 18th March 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.”

When asked, officials of the Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions were exploring all options for the return of passengers home, but with the government deciding to suspend all incoming flights from March 22 for a week, thousands of Indians around the world wanting to return have only one day, Saturday, to find a way home.

Devotees not allowed at Guruvayur temple

21/03/2020,THRISSUR

The Sreekrishna temple in Guruvayur will not allow devotees from Saturday in view of the COVID-19 outbreak. Rituals such as Choroonu, weddings, Udayastamana puja, Chuttuvilakku and Krishnanattam will not be allowed. The usual pujas and rituals will continue at the temple. The decision is part of the efforts to maintain the guidelines of the government to check the spread of the virus, Guruvayur Devaswom chairman K.B. Mohandas said.

Eight killed in cracker unit blast

21/03/2020

The exact cause of the fire that sparked the explosion around 3.10 p.m. was under investigation, he added.

The Collector said that the licence of the unit was suspended in 2018 after officials discovered violations of safety norms. “The suspension was revoked in 2019 with a warning and the licensee gave an undertaking to comply with conditions,” Mr. Kannan said.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel had to struggle for hours to put out the flames, as the chemicals at the accident site kept exploding till 8 p.m. All five work sheds were gutted.

Inspector General of Police (South Zone) K.P. Shanmuga Rajeswaran inspected the accident site along with the Superintendent of Police P. Perumal.

“Luckily, a godown on the fireworks premises where the raw chemicals were stocked in huge quantities escaped the flames. Otherwise, it could have caused havoc,” Revenue Divisional Officer, Sattur, A. Kalimuthu, said.

The deceased were identified as J. Rani, 42, G. Tamilselvi, 35, M. Thangammal, 39, J. Jeyabharathi, 47, M. Badrakali, 33, S. Veluthai, 34, R. Kaliammal, 63, and A. Murugaiah,57.

The injured were rushed to the government hospital in Kovilpatti. However, four of them were shifted to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital in Palayamkottai and four others to the government hospital in Thoothukudi.

The Elayirampannai police are investigating.

High Court judges will be given iPad Pro, says Minister

Govt. to build additional district courts and sub courts

21/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

C. Ve. Shanmugam

Tamil Nadu government will procure 60 Apple iPad Pro units with cover and stylus at a cost of ₹80.93 lakh to judges of the Madras High Court, Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam announced in the Assembly on Friday. These will be for use by judges at the principal Bench in Chennai and the Madurai Bench.

The government will take up conservation and restoration of heritage buildings at the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court at Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district and District Munsif Court in Coimbatore, at a cost of ₹ 10 crore, Mr. Shanmugam said.

The Minister announced that the government would provide young lawyers a monthly stipend of ₹3,000 for two years.

Additional district courts would be constituted at Tiruchengode in Namakkal district, Harur in Dharmapuri district and Arakkonam in Ranipet district; additional sub courts will be set up at Thirukoilur in Kallakurichi district, Nilakottai in Dindigul district, Keeranur in Pudukottai district and Tiruvottiyur in Tiruvallur district, he said.

Mr. Shanmugam said the government would upgrade the existing sub jail in Tiruvallur into a district jail. An additional block for 100 prisoners at the district jail in Chengalpet would be constructed, library facilities would be upgraded in all Central prisons and special prisons for women, jailor quarters would be built in Central prisons in Madurai and Palayamkottai, 50 body worn cameras would be procured for prison officials to monitor the movement of prisoners and to prevent any untoward incidents, he said.

Tamil in court

The State government has been taking steps to urge the Centre to make Tamil the official language in Madras High Court, even though the plea was rejected twice by the Supreme Court, Mr. Shanmugam said.

In his reply to P. Sivakumar alias Thayagam Kavi (DMK), who raised the issue in the House, Mr. Shanmugam said the Chief Minister had written to the Centre on March 3 in this regard.

Countering Mr. Sivakumar’s question on the delay in adopting Tamil as official language in the Madras High Court, Mr. Shanmugam questioned why the DMK was unable to ensure this when in power between 2006 and 2011, although it was a partner in the coalition government at the Centre then. The plea for adopting Tamil as official language in the Madras High Court was rejected twice in 2012 and 2015, he said.

S. Semmalai (AIADMK) urged the State government to take action on adopting Tamil as official language in the High Court. “When the courts in four States can have Hindi as official language in respective States, why not Tamil,” he asked.

Exams postponed

21/03/2020,CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University has postponed the exams scheduled for first and third semester of B. Pharm students on March 30 to April 15.

Provide food, shelter to the homeless during ‘Janata Curfew’: HC

‘If needed, use community halls, schools’

21/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Friday directed the State government to accommodate all street dwellers in ‘night shelters’ run by local bodies and also provide them free food during the ‘Janata Curfew’ called for by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday when most of the eateries are likely to be closed through the day.

Justices N. Kirubakaran and R. Hemalatha issued the direction at the request of advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam who pointed out that the poor living on pavements would be the most affected during the self-imposed restriction on public movement, except for emergencies, across the country from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

During the course of a habeas corpus petition argued by him, the lawyer apprised the court of the difficulties that could be faced by the homeless poor during the curfew.

The Bench in its order said: “As rightly pointed out by Mr. Suryaprakasam, in these days of crisis, the interest of daily wage labourers and poor workers should be taken care of by this court especially during ‘Janata Curfew’ as this court is a constitutional court. Therefore, it has to incidentally consider the plea made by him.

“Though it is submitted by Raja Srinivas, standing counsel for Greater Chennai Corporation, that 51 night shelters were available in the city, the government and the corporation are directed to inform through media about the availability of such shelters. It is also the duty of the government to provide food to them.

“If necessary, the government and the corporation shall utilise the community halls, marriage halls and schools for this purpose on March 22, 2020,” the court ordered.

51 shelters

Homeless people may stay in the 51 shelters maintained by Greater Chennai Corporation on Sunday. Sharing a list of 51 shelters of the Corporation on twitter, Municipal Administration Minister S.P.Velumani said the homeless people may approach these shelters in various wards. They would also be given food. He advised city residents to cooperate and remain indoors on Sunday.

Laptop demand up as firms mull work-from-home options

Supplies impacted since major production takes place in China

21/03/2020, SANJAY VIJAYAKUMAR,CHENNAI

With an increasing number of companies looking at work-from-home options for its employees amid the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a sudden spike in demand for laptops. However, there is a shortage in the market due to supply issues, according to industry players.

“The demand has been very sudden, and more companies have been looking to procure laptops, as they adopt work-from-home options. The availability is not on a level to match the demand in time,” said K. Purushothaman, former director at Nasscom.

“For large corporates, the supply works on a built-to-order basis, and is shipped as per requirements. In case of this segment, no one holds an inventory, unlike in the consumer segment. Over the last 45 days, the demand has spiked due to work-from-home policies adopted by firms,” said Mahesh R, business head, digital products, Croma.

Mr. Mahesh pointed out that a majority of production happens in China and most factories were based in Wuhan. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, supplies have been impacted. “Normally, what happens is that those who need supply in April will have to shift stocks in February, which is essentially the Chinese New Year time-frame. This was impacted due to the extended holiday there,” Mr. Mahesh said. He also pointed out that Intel accounted for 85% of the processors and they had been facing shortages for the last one year and were focusing on premium models.

The annual size of the Indian personal computing market (desktops, laptops, tablets) is 12 million, of which 4.5 million is the consumer segment and the remaining is the commercial segment.

“The processor issue; the supplies being impacted due to the situation in China; and the weaker rupee pushing up prices, will all result in the inability to cater to the current demand. Our outlets in malls too have been shut,” said Mr. Mahesh.

Jaipal Singh, associate research manager, client devices, IDC India, pointed out factories are operating at only half capacity in China, and this is expected to continue till April. So it will be difficult to meet the demand,” he said.