OU staff seek closure of univ

OU staff seek closure of univ

Hyderabad:11.06.2020

Non-Gazetted Officers staff association of Osmania University on Wednesday seeked the closure of the university following the death of an employee working in University College of Technology (OU).

They demanded that the campus should be declared as a containment zone for at least two weeks emphasising that the employee died due to Covid-19. Members of the association said that declaring the campus as a containment zone will help in containing the spread of coronavirus. TNN

UoH slips in QS world rankings

UoH slips in QS world rankings

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: 11.06.2020

Performance of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) slipped in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2021that was released on Wednesday. The Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H), which did not find a spot in the QS World University Rankings for the past few years, figured in the 2021rankings.

According to the latest report released by QS, UoH is ranked among world’s top universities in the range of 651-700. In the QS World University Rankings 2020, the university’s ranking was in the range of 601-650. The UoH is among the 10 institutions recognised by the ministry of human resource development as an institution of eminence (IoE).

IIT-H was among the four institutions in the country, which improved its position in the QS Rankings 2021 by securing a rank in the range of 601-650. The IIT-Bombay retained its status as country’s top institution, followed by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

The UoH is categorised as an established medium-sized public varsity with high research intensity and comprehensive subject focus by the QS. Overall, in the 2021edition, the UoH performed among the top 55% in the QS World University Rankings. At 293 rank globally, the citations per faculty was the strongest indicator for UoH. In citations per faculty, it is valued at 95.60 whereas the global median is 49.10. It’s citations are at 38,719 for a total of 4,196 research papers published during the period 2014-19.

“UoH has again been ranked among the top global universities which is a good indicator of its performance. However, noting the slide down in some parameters that has affected the overall ranking, we will take steps to strengthen those areas. We need to perform better in all key areas of teaching and research to be among the Top 300 in the world,” said Prof Appa Rao Podile, vice chancellor.

#IITHyderabad has been placed in #601-650 Ranking Band in QS World University Rankings 2021. The #Research Output of the Institute was ranked as “Very High”. IIT Hyderabad also among the 10 Best Institutes in India —IIT-Hyderabad

Doctors, nurses association extends solidarity to medicos

Doctors, nurses association extends solidarity to medicos

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:11.06.2020

In a show of solidarity with agitating PG doctors of Gandhi Hospital, members of the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) too held simultaneous protests across all teaching hospitals in the city, including Niloufer Hospital, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital and Osmania General Hospital.

TJUDA members highlighted in a representation submitted to the state health minister that the mounting pressure of Covid-19 cases on Gandhi Hospital was leading to the crumbling of already dismal infrastructure.

“It is condemnable and pathetic to see public brutally attack us at work despite all the risk the professionals are taking to serve people,” said Dr Vaddiraju Rakesh, vicepresident of THANA.

Meanwhile, Congress blamed the TRS government for the attack on doctors at Gandhi Hospital.


More than 300 PG doctors protest outside state-run Gandhi hospital

Won’t tolerate attack on docs: Police

Hyderabad:

Two accused persons were arrested and are being sent to jail, said North zone DCP Kalmeshwar S. On Wednesday, the Hyderabad Police tweeted: “Two accused who assaulted the Doctor at Gandhi Hospital last night are arrested immediately after the incident. Under any circumstances attack Medical staff will not be tolerated. Most firm and stringent legal action will be taken. In this time Doctors are our Frontline leaders”

A case has been registered under Section 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule) of IPC and Sections of Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and Telangana Medicare Service Person and Medicare Service Institution Act 2008. TNN

Soon, plasma therapy trial on critical patients

Soon, plasma therapy trial on critical patients

Sumitra.DebRoy@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:11.06.2020

A pan-Maharashtra clinical trial to assess the efficacy of plasma therapy to treat severely-ill Covid-19 patients is set to be launched by the medical education department. Around 21 public medical colleges from the state will be participating in the trial, presumably one of the largest in the world to study critical patients. KEM, Sion, Nair and Cooper hospitals are four premier medical colleges from the city that are likely to be part of the trial.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted approval on Monday to the Government Medical College, Nagpur, which will be heading the trial. State officials said the ongoing pan-India trial by ICMR is to study the efficacy of the convalescent plasma therapy on moderately-ill patients, while the state will look at only critical cases. “Our experience shows the severe cases need plasma therapy and therefore we chose to study its effect on them,” said Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, secretary, medical education department.

The randomised open trial is likely to include 500 patients, who would be given plasma from recovered patients. “We have started the process to procure 10 apheresis machines which will separate plasma from the blood,” he said.

Full report on www.toi.in

Rajasthan govt puts curbs on people entering, exiting state

Rajasthan govt puts curbs on people entering, exiting state

Starts Today, Will Be In Place For A Week

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:11.06.2020

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday imposed regulations on the movement of people and vehicles across the state borders. The restrictions, which come into effect from Thursday, will be in place for the following seven days.

No person can enter the state without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from a competent authority, while those heading out of the state must get a pass issued either from the district collector or an authorised government officer. The order is not applicable for intra-state movement.

Rajasthan shares borders with Punjab, Haryana, NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The order released by director general of police (law and order) M L Lather directed police officers concerned to create check-posts at all inter-state borders.

“Passes for exiting the state will be granted to only those facing an emergency situation like hospitalisation in another state or to attend funeral of a family member,” the order said.

During a high-level review meeting on Covid-19 on Wednesday, Gehlot said that many people who were found to be positive for Covid-19 had tested negative before they travelled out.

The move has been taken after a spike in number of cases, especially among migrants and in rural areas. During the meet, Gehlot informed that the state recorded 2,500 cases between June 1and June 10, the first 10-day period when the state came out of the lockdown. “The regulation is required so that our three months of hard work does not go waste,” said Gehlot.

Meanwhile, the government decided to set up counters at airports, railway stations and bus stands to provide on-the-spot passes after verification of IDs.

Those arriving by air have to follow the same guidelines issued by the central government. Naveen Jain, managing director of Rajasthan State Roadways Transport Corporation said that those buses which are on the way to the state from other states carrying migrants will be affected by the order.

Barricades put by Rajasthan police to seal the border with Gujarat in Chhapri

TN hasn’t recorded 236 Covid deaths in Chennai

TN hasn’t recorded 236 Covid deaths in Chennai

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.06.2020

At least 460 people have died of Covid-19 in Chennai till June 8, which is more than double the 224 announced by the directorate of public health (DPH), a scrutiny of the city corporation death registry has revealed.

A team of DPH officials on Tuesday found that the death register maintained by the health officer of the Greater Chennai Corporation had recorded 236 more deaths than the state register. If these deaths had been added, the fatality rate in the state would have been close to 1.5%, against the 0.7% reported by state officials.

On Tuesday, TOI had reported that at least 20 Covid deaths logged by the Railway hospital in Perambur were not reported to the Covid-19 state nodal office. “We have no intention of hiding any deaths. We are transparent. This revision exercise also shows that,” health minister C Vijayabaskar told TOI.

All government medical college hospitals and some private hospitals have to report deaths to the state and city corporation through email. “Many have not submitted it and we are finding out why. We will add the cases to the death registry after verification,” said health secretary Beela Rajesh. “A committee has been formed to reconcile the issue within a week,” she said.

DPH has issued showcause notices to hospitals and set up a committee to “streamline” death reports. It also directed the Greater Chennai Corporation to send all Covid-19 death reports to the state health agency in a prescribed format. Public health officials have also been directed to analyse all domiciliary deaths and see if they could be described as “probable Covid”, as per ICMR guidelines.

Officials in the health department of Chennai corporation said they had nearly 75% less deaths, partly because they have not updated the state death registry as they were short-staffed.

Epidemiologists say doctors have to declare Covid deaths and probable Covid deaths along with a list of comorbidities. Like in every other death declaration sheets, the forms 4 and 4 (a) will also ask doctors to write down underlying cause, contributing factors and immediate cause. WHO has provided codes for Covid-19 deaths – U07.1 for all Covid deaths and U07.2 for probable Covid deaths. In second case, Covid-19 virus is not identified through test, but doctors have clinically or epidemiologically diagnosed and suspect the virus.

“Accurate data is necessary to measure the public health impact, plan for timely health interventions and protect communities. At the same time, other health conditions affecting populations need to be also monitored,” said an official.

A man sprays disinfectant at the crematorium where the last rites of DMK MLA Anbazhagan were being performed on Wednesday

DMK MLA succumbs to Covid on b’day

DMK MLA J Anbazhagan, who passed away on his 62nd birthday at a Chennai hospital on Wednesday, became the first legislator in the country to die of Covid-19. The Chepauk constituency member was admitted to a private hospital on June 2 after he complained of breathing difficulties. He later tested positive for Covid-19. His mortal remains were laid to rest at Kannammapet burial ground in the city. A three-time MLA, Anbazhagan was DMK’s Chennai west district secretary.

Anbazhagan, who even dabbled in film distribution, had friends cutting across parties. The condolences that poured in through the day just went to prove that. Governor Banwarilal Purohit and CM Edappadi K Palaniswami led the people in expressing their condolences to the legislator’s family. TNN

Meet the voice you hear before your call connects

Meet the voice you hear before your call connects

JASLEEN BHALLA, A VOICE-OVER ARTIST FOR 10 YEARS, FEELS NONE OF HER PREVIOUS GIGS WAS AS IMPORTANT

Rohan.Dua@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.06.2020

For crores of Indians, Jasleen Bhalla is now a familiar voice, her smooth tone audible as soon as you dial any number on your cell phone: “Coronavirus se aaj poora desh lad raha hai, yaad rahe humain bimari se ladna hai, bimaar se nahi (The entire country is fighting against coronavirus, but remember we have to fight the disease, not the patient)."

On Tuesday, the 40-yearold from Delhi who lent her voice to the now-iconic caller tune told TOI that she was as surprised as the rest of us when her message first started playing on cell phones. “I had actually recorded the message for a production house in the last week of March, I didn’t know it was meant for a public campaign. Now I can’t help but feel a certain sense of pride whenever I hear it,” said Bhalla, as she sat in her flat in Alaknanda which doubles up as her office, equipped with soundproof windows and acoustic foam mounted on walls.

“It’s here that I recorded the voice-over,” said the English graduate from Delhi University’s Khalsa College, who has since recorded the same message in English and Punjabi as well. “Each time the Indian Council of Medical Research updates its information, I have to record a fresh voiceover like the time they changed social distancing norms from two feet to six feet.”

Bhalla has been a voiceover artist for 10 years and her services have been used by Delhi Metro, SpiceJet and IndiGo among others. In fact, it’s Bhalla’s voice guiding you to the right door during peak hours on Delhi Metro — “The doors will open on your left, please mind the gap”.

But she admits that none of her previous gigs felt as important as her latest one. “My family knows it’s me on the other end of the cell phone so in a way it has made them more cautious about following guidelines, wearing masks and using sanitisers.”

Bhalla was told pre-recording that the message needed a responsible tone, it had to push people to follow norms. “That came easy for me. I’m the child of an Army officer, I was taught discipline and responsibility at a young age,” said Bhalla, adding that she herself has only stepped out of the house twice in the last two months.

VOICE OF CORONA TUNE: The artist recorded her voice from her flat

JASLEEN BHALLA SAYS

I had actually recorded the message for a production house in the last week of March, I didn’t know it was meant for a public campaign

No pay for 3 mnths, docs at 2 hospitals ready to quit

No pay for 3 mnths, docs at 2 hospitals ready to quit

Paras.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.06.2020

The resident doctors of Kasturba Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital have threatened to mass resign if their salary arrears for the past three months are not credited to them.

The Resident Doctor’s Association of the Kasturba Hospital has written to the additional medical superintendent, stating that they have not been paid since March. “All the residents are working during the Covid-19 pandemic, putting their own and their families’ lives at risk. Over that, we are not getting our salaries,” the letter states.

The letter goes on to add: “We are afraid that if we are not paid by June 16, we will have to move for mass resignation. We hope authorities concerned will take immediate action,” it states.

The RDA at Hindu Rao, in their letter to the medical superintendent, urged the administration to release the salaries of three months by June 18, and to also ensure a monthly disbursement of salaries to all the health care workers.

A north corporation official said that the civic body is facing acute financial crunch and salaries are paid in ascending order, with safai karamcharis being paid first and senior officials getting it last.

Dr Sunil Kumar, who is the president of RDA at Kasturba Hospital, asked how could doctors be expected to work without any money in such testing times. “This is inhumane. Being frontline workers we should be paid our pending salaries as soon as possible and a regular salary pay out should be ensured,” he added.

Indians shine in AI research, but prefer to work in US

Indians shine in AI research, but prefer to work in US

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.06.2020

India is the source country for 12% of the most elite –the top 0.5%– of researchers in artificial intelligence, a new study has found. But these top brains prefer to work in the US rather than India. In a global AI tracker launched by MacroPolo, a think tank devoted to the study of China, they found Indian undergraduate education throws up the most number of top level AI researchers (after the USA) but almost all travel out to the US for graduate education and work.

The data is significant as the Modi government has declared greater emphasis on Industry 4.0, AI, robotics and machine learning as focus areas. Clearly, systemic issues need to be fixed before India can marry the twin objectives of harnessing tech brainpower and building local in the key industry or top level knowledge institutions. The world’s top 25 institutions for AI research are overwhelmingly in the US, with China contributing its top two institutions, Tsinghua and Peking Universities. There are no Indian institutions in the list.

The key takeaways from the study show that the US continues to maintain a huge lead over all other countries in top-tier AI researchers. China remains the largest source of AI researchers, but this may be in jeopardy as the Trump administration has announced plans to curb access of Chinese STEM students to top US universities. The study noted that over half of all top-tier AI researchers are immigrants or foreign nationals, researchers working in a country different from where they received their undergraduate degree. China makes up 27% of foreign AI researchers in the US, while Indians make up 11%.

Number of recovered patients exceeds active cases for the first time

Number of recovered patients exceeds active cases for the first time

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.06.2020

For the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak surfaced in India, the number of recovered patients has exceeded the total active cases with the health ministry on Wednesday recording 1,33,632 active cases, whereas 1,35,205 people have been cured so far, taking the total recovery rate to 48.99%.

“The recovery figures are reflecting better clinical management and timely detection enabled by ramped up testing and hospital infrastructure across the country,” a senior official said. The number of samples tested by ICMR crossed 50 lakh on Wednesday. In the last 24 hours, ICMR tested 1,45,216 samples and has continued to ramp up testing capacity to detect infected persons.

However, new cases continue to rise amid easing of restrictions which were imposed under the lockdown. India reported close to 10,000 new instances of the infection in the last 24 hours till 8 am on Wednesday, pushing the cumulative case load to over 2.7 lakh. The return of migrants to their homes has also increased reporting of cases though the numbers are not a runaway trend as of now.

“Most cases are mild to moderate and will recover in home quarantine or maximum with oxygen support. Our focus is to reduce mortality and for that we need to take care of the elderly and those with co-morbidities,” the official said.

Full report on www.toi.in

HALE & HEARTY: An old man who successfully fought coronavirus being felicitated after his recovery at an Indore hospital

WhatsApp fixes loophole which exposed users’ no. on Google

WhatsApp fixes loophole which exposed users’ no. on Google

Anam.Ajmal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.06.2020

Instant messaging platform WhatsApp has fixed a loophole which was exposing users’ phone numbers in plain text to any internet user on Google, the Facebook-owned app said on Wednesday, two days after a cyber security researcher claimed that between 29k to 3 lakh users were impacted by the loophole.

“What makes this finding easy or appears to be simple is that data is accessible on the open web and not on the dark web,” researcher Athul Jayaram wrote in his blog post.

According to Jayaram, the “leak” occurred through WhatsApp’s “click to chat” feature, which allows users to begin a chat with someone without having their phone number saved in their address book. The feature generates a link, which users can then click to begin a conversation with anyone who has an active WhatsApp connection. He further said that cybercriminals and fraudsters could target users whose numbers are exposed to Google.

WhatsApp denied that it was a vulnerability. “Our Click to Chat feature, which lets users create a URL with their phone number so that anyone can easily message them, is used widely by small and micro-businesses around the world to connect with their customers,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

RT-PCR tests to detect Covid not fully dependable

RT-PCR tests to detect Covid not fully dependable

Syed.Akbar@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:11.06.2020

In a finding that could have widespread ramifications, researchers at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, have found that about 50% of Covid-19 positive samples tested through the standard RT-qPCR test may not yield the correct result.

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test has been recommended by the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is used globally to detect the virus.

The CCMB scientists found a high percentage of false negative cases while comparing the RT-qPCR with a new test method developed by the them. The new test - R-T-nPCR - is not only cost-effective but can be conducted on a large number of people in a short time, the researchers said. is “We found that taking both standard RT-qPCR tests together, the RT-nPCR test was able to correctly identify 90% of samples detected as positive by RTqPCR. It also detected 13% samples as positive among samples that were negative by the standard RT-qPCR test (likely false negatives),” the scientists said in their research paper which has been uploaded on an online pre-print repository for biological sciences ‘bioRxiv’.

“Based on the experimentally measured false negative rate by RT-nPCR tests from this study, we estimated that as many as 50% of the positive samples may escape detection in single pass testing by RTqPCR in an actual testing scenario,” they added.

The new method uses RTnested PCR and is equally sensitive as RT-qPCR. This method needs a simple PCR machine. It increases the possibility of many more labs doing Covid-19 tests, thereby expanding testing capacity. RT-qPCR requires an expensive qPCR machine, which is not found in many labs in the country.

“The CCMB method is suitable for largescale surveillance,” the researchers claimed.

UP notice to 6 sacked teachers for recovery of ₹1.37crore paid to them

UP notice to 6 sacked teachers for recovery of ₹1.37crore paid to them

Isha.Jain@timesgroup.com

11.06.2020

Lucknow/Shravasti: The UP government on Wednesday issued notices to six sacked teachers for recovery of ₹1.37 crore paid to them during their tenure of employment in the district. The six were sacked last year after they were found using fake papers to get the job and FIRs were filed against them. One of them is in jail, one has got bail while the remaining four are absconding. Earlier, similar steps were taken to recover ₹95 lakh from four teachers in Bahraich, which they spent as salary and allowances during their service. Last week, TOI reported about one teacher who worked at 25 Kasturba Vidyalayas for 13 months and ‘took away’ ₹1 crore as salary. Later, it turned out that documents of one ‘eligible’ candidate were being used by fraudsters.

Shravasti’s basic shisha adhikari Omkar Rana issued notices to six teachers —Manoj Kumar of Etah (₹4.8 lakh), Ram Kumar of Firozabad (₹13.6 lakh), Shobnath of Sant Kabir Nagar (₹33.3 lakh), Rajiv Upadhyaya of Gorakhpur (₹33.4 lakh), Kanhaiya Singh of Balrampur (₹32.7 lakh), and Ajit Kumar Shukla of Bahraich (₹19.1 lakh). “All these six teachers were caught working with fake documents last year, after which they were sacked and FIRs were lodged against them,” Rana said.

According to officials, of the six, Ajit Shukla had produced a fake certificate of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to get the job. He was sacked, and later arrested but is currently on bail. Rana said, Ram Kumar is related to the 2004-05 BEd degree scam where candidates used fake degrees in the name of Agra University. Others were terminated in different cases of using fake documents. Of the remaining five, Shobhnath is behind bars while four are absconding, Rana told TOI.

Full report on www.toi.in

Poorer show by Indian institutions in QS World University Rankings

Poorer show by Indian institutions in QS World University Rankings

Manash Pratim Gohain & Hemali Chhapia TNN

11.06.2020

NewDelhi: Indian universities made a poorer show at the QS World University Rankings, 2021 with majority of the topranked institutions dropping in their rankings and just four universities in Top 300 as against six last year.

Though IIT-Bombay retained its position as the topranked Indian institution, it too dropped from 152 to 172nd position this year. All the government-run institutions accorded with the Institution of Eminence (IoE) tag, slipped down.

Among the top five Indian universities — IIT-Bombay, IISc-Bangalore, IIT-Delhi, IITMadras and IIT-Kharagpur — the IITs at Kharagpur and Kanpur have fallen out of the Top 300 list. Delhi University, an IoE, falls out of the Top 500 list. This year, 21Indian universities are in Top 1000 as against 24 last year. There is no Indian private university in the Top 650 list.

IIT-Delhi director, Prof V Ramgopal Rao, said, “The character of our institutions is different. Also, it is a marathon we are running, not a 100 metre race.” He said perception-based scores by these agencies are open to a lot of fallacies and other considerations. “We have all had issues with this.” “This is a very dicey and non-transparent metric. International reputation needs an altogether different strategy. We need a global campaign for education like we did ‘Incredible India’ for tourism. In the case of Delhi, at least 200 new recruitments have been made in last few years. Our citations per faculty score have gone down a bit this year because it takes time for new faculty to become productive in our system,” said Rao.

Earlier this year, leading IITs — Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee — decided not to participate in any of the Times Higher Education (THE) — World University Rankings, citing lack of transparency in the methodology of ranking process.

Full report on www.toi.in

Hospitals denying Covid treatment will face action: Govt

Hospitals denying Covid treatment will face action: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.06.2020

Hospitals denying Covid-19 treatment under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) will face action, the health ministry warned after beneficiaries of the scheme complained of difficulties in availing treatment at private hospitals.

The ministry issued an order to all health organisations empanelled under CGHS for strict adherence to stipulated guidelines. As per the order, all CGHS empanelled hospitals notified as Covid hospitals by state governments shall provide treatment to such beneficiaries as per norms for all Covid-related treatments.

Similarly, CGHS empanelled hospitals which are not notified as Covid hospitals shall not deny treatment facilities and admission to CGHS beneficiaries and shall charge as per CGHS norms for all other treatments, the order said. It added that action would be taken in case of violations.

The warning follows the heath ministry reviewing representations from CGHS beneficiaries regarding difficulties in availing treatment at private hospitals and diagnostic centres empanelled under the scheme.

Under CGHS, government employees can avail cashless diagnostics and treatment at hospitals, which send the bills directly to the government for settlement. For this, hospitals and CGHS enter into an agreement for a certain period, under which the price for each medical procedure is put down. If a hospital wants to revise any rate, it has to enter into a fresh agreement with CGHS.

Plane shortage keeps Indians abroad stranded

Plane shortage keeps Indians abroad stranded

V.Ayyappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.06.2020

Evacuation of stranded Indians in the US, Canada and Europe has been slow, as only one Indian carrier, Air India, has the long range planes needed.

Most flights are scheduled from Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto but they are not enough as too many Indians, several of them hailing from Chennai, are waiting to return home as early as possible.

As the demand is high for urgent travel and as announcement of US schedules in phases is not adequate, travel and tour companies have tied up with foreign airlines and have approached the DGCA for permission to operate services.

The move comes as some foreign carriers from Europe and the US are flying to India to take back their citizens. “These aircraft fly empty to Delhi and Mumbai. The government is yet to allow them to bring Indians stranded aboard,” said an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

“The ministry has relaxed its rules and has started to allow foreign airlines, especially those in the Middle East, to fly in Indian passengers. FlyDubai operated a few flights to Chennai. But there is no move yet to allow it from the US and Europe,” said an official.

Nishant Pitti, founder and CEO of EaseMyTrip.com, said, “We are planning to tieup with a few airlines to repatriate the thousands of Indians stranded in the US, Canada and Europe. We will speak to the airlines when we get approval from the ministry of civil aviation. A dialogue has been initiated.”

Air India flights have been scheduled based on the number of people who are ready to fly based on registrations. However, too many flights cannot be operated by the airline because fleet limitation and international and domestic connections too need to be taken into consideration, said an airline official.

Crew rostering and moving them between airports within the country is a challenge. Nevertheless, Air India has included 18 flights from Chicago, 18 from San Francisco and 19 from Toronto in its schedule from Delhi.

This has come as a blessing for the 500 NRIs stranded in the city as several have got tickets. Gowtham, an NRI from Seattle stranded in Chennai, said, “I managed to get a ticket to fly to San Francisco via Delhi. But demand is too high for flights both ways. There is a Facebook group with 15,000 members, all who want to come to India.”

I managed to get a ticket to fly to San Francisco via Delhi. But demand is too high for flights both ways. There is a Facebook group with 15,000 members, all who want to come to India

GOWTHAM | NRI from Seattle

IMD: City likely to get light rain in next 48 hours

IMD: City likely to get light rain in next 48 hours

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.06.2020

After cloudy skies brought from some relief from the sweltering summer heat on Wednesday, weathermen said the city has chances of rainfall or the first thunderstorm of the season in the next two days, while clouds continue to engulf the skies as a low pressure over Bay of Bengal is gathering strength. Temperatures will rise again by weekend, as the system will intensify and move into the land.

IMD has forecast, “The sky condition likely to be generally cloudy. Light to moderate rain is likely to occur in some areas in the city in the next 48 hours.”

On Wednesday, the city was mostly cloudy with temperatures at 34.1°C in Nungambakkam and 34.4°C in Meenambakkam, which were 2.6°C and 2.9°C below normal. Humidity too was at 60% in Nungambakkam and 62% at Meenambakkam.

Weather bloggers said the skies were overcast on Wednesday with mostly high clouds which were at an altitude of 20,000 feet. These clouds mostly bring traces or light rainfall. Cloudy skies could continue while as the low pressure gathers intensity over Bay of Bengal, which could take another 48 hours. According to IMD’s regional inference, a low pressure over eastcentral and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal persists with associated cyclonic circulation extending up to mid-tropospheric level tilting southwestwards with height. It may move westnorthwestwards and become well marked during the next 48 hours “The wind convergence, which could bring rain, was happening over the sea. What we had was high clouds. The city will see an overcast sky on Thursday as well,” said weather blogger Pradeep John.

As southwest monsoon is progressing to other regions in the country, the system over Bay of Bengal may bring spells over the west coast due to the drag it creates over the next few days before it intensifies and moves towards central India. On Wednesday, some parts of west Tamil Nadu like Coimbatore recorded light rainfall at 0.2mm and coastal areas like Karaikal 25.3mm and Nagapattinam at 16.4mm. IMD has forecast light to moderate rain likely over isolated places of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal till June 14.

5 infra projects to be delayed more

5 infra projects to be delayed more

Shortage Of Guest Workers Results In Such Situation

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.06.2020

Residents may have to continue their battle with traffic on vital junctions after the lockdown is relaxed completely as completion of five flyovers and grade separators in and around Chennai is further delayed due to the acute shortage for guest workers.

These key infrastructure projects executed by the state highways department at a financial outlay of around ₹450crore were already running beyond their schedule.

Construction work at these facilities where mainly migrant workers were employed has been hit.

While paucity for guest workers has pushed their completion by another six months, labourers sourced from other parts of the state have been recruited to carry out emergency work. But, a section of labourers from districts is refusing to travel to Chennai in the wake of spiralling cases of coronavirus in the city and fringes.

Three facilities located at Vandalur Junction on GST Road, one leg of Eechangadu Junction running through Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road and Koyambedu that were planned to be finished by June have been delayed by anywhere between three and six months. The two-level grade separator at Vijayanagar Junction and Medavakkam, the longest flyover in Chennai running for 2.3km, are expected to be completed by December 2020. Ironically, these projects have missed multiple scheduled deadlines since 2018 and suffered inordinate delays owing to land acquisition and contractors abandoning work midway. According to official sources with the highways department, only one fifth of guest workers were available to execute construction work at sites. “There was an instance of a contractor attempting to fly down guest workers from West Bengal to complete flyover work. But, the migrant labourers are not willing to return immediately,” a highways department official said.

Cashing in on the crisis, some local labourers are demanding additional wages, highways department sources said. “We are managing with available workforce as a section of local labourers from other districts does not want to travel to the city due to scare over Covid-19,” another official said.

Meanwhile, Builders Association of India, a body with contractors executing infrastructure projects as its members, is attempting to get guest workers back to Tamil Nadu. The association’s state treasurer S Ramaprabhu said that contractors have also offered to pay wages in advance. “But, guest workers are seeking two-three months for returning to Chennai,” he added.

The flyover under construction at Medavakkam

Daughters design ‘quarantine room’ for dad who returned from Spain

Daughters design ‘quarantine room’ for dad who returned from Spain

MT.Saju@timesgroup.com

11.06.2020

Roshna Keerthi and her sister Saira Mahati missed their father a lot after he got stuck in Madrid since March due to Covid-19 outbreak. However, when the little ones heard that their father would be landing in Chennai on Monday, both started jumping but with a note of caution. The children knew how dangerous the virus was, so they decided to decorate a quarantine room for their father Gopinath Chandran.

Eleven-year-old Roshna and seven-year-old Saira first prepared a list of materials including sanitizer and gloves that they wanted to buy. With the help of their mother, the duo organised it in a couple of days. They then worked on some drawings, illustrations and instructions on the safety aspects to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Finally, some home-made candles in case if the power went off. Once the room was set, they pasted an illustration saying “Quarantine Room” on the door.

As Gopinath entered his apartment in Kolapakkam (after a week’s institutional quarantine in Delhi), both Roshna and Saira welcomed him wearing masks. They then requested him to use the sanitizer kept at the entrance. The children showed him the room where he should undergo institutional quarantine for a week.

“Hi, Appa, welcome to quarantine room B44. All your necessities will be available at your doorstep. And you will be provided with breakfast, lunch, snacks, tea and dinner,” they wrote on a paper and placed it on the wall itself. Gloves, tissue paper, sanitizer and soap were kept on a table inside the room.

“We have been hearing a lot about Covid-19 for the past three months. We were very upset when we heard that our father got stuck in Madrid. We were eagerly waiting for him but at the same time, we wanted to take care of him the best we could. And that’s how we started to design a quarantine room for him,” said Roshna and Saira.

At a time when many don’t follow safety measures, Roshna and Saira show the world how prevention is better than cure. How did they get the idea?

“I booked through Vande Bharat Mission and I got a ticket to Delhi, where I landed on May 31. I took institutional quarantine at a hotel in Delhi for a week. I used to tell my daughters how I was treated there. I think they got the idea from it only,” said Gopinath, a software consultant.

Both Roshna and Saira agree, but they also want to give credit to various awareness drives. “We hear a lot about the outbreak of Covid-19 these days. A cure for this virus is not yet out, so we should never take chances. I am very upset that I am not able to spend time with my father, but I know it’s my responsibility to follow the safety measures,” said Roshna.

A TOUCH OF COLOUR: The children have ensured that following stringent safety norms do not become cumbersome for the family

AROUND TAMIL NADU

AROUND TAMIL NADU  11.06.2020

26 new coronavirus cases in Tiruvannamalai

Twenty-six people tested positive for Covid-19 in Tiruvannamalai district on Wednesday. The total number of cases in the district stands at 548 now. Of the new cases reported, seven were suffering from influenza-like illness and 14 had returned from Chennai, Hosur and Bengaluru. Five positive cases were primary contacts of infected people. Sixteen people were discharged on Wednesday taking the total number of cured to 326. As many as 220 positive cases are being treated at the Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College and Hospital, Cheyyar Government Hospital and at a private hospital in Athiyandhal village. Speaking to TOI, a senior district administration official said, “The surge in number of positive cases was only after the arrival of workers who got stranded in other districts and states. The another reason for the spike in cases is high number of tests. In Tiruvannamali district, more than 23,000 people were tested.”

Man from TN dies in Pondy, swab tests positive

A man from Tamil Nadu, who died at Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital in Puducherry on Monday, tested positive for Covid-19 infection. Director (health and family welfare) S Mohankumar said the 82-year-old man from Villupuram was admitted with multiple ailments including diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clots in the brain and cardiac complaints to the hospital on June 4. Swab samples taken after his death tested positive for Covid-19 infection on Tuesday following which the territorial officials made necessary arrangements to follow all protocols in managing and disposing of the body. Health minister Malladi Krishna Rao inspected the hospital on Wednesday morning and reviewed the preparedness of the staff to handle dead bodies of Covid patients. Meanwhile, 12 more people tested positive for Covid-19 infection taking the total number of cases to 145 in the Union territory.

Two flyers, pregnant woman test positive in Coimbatore

Three people, one of them a pregnant woman, tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Coimbatore on Wednesday. While two of them are flyers from Chennai, the third one is a local resident. In the case of the flyers - a 24-year-old woman from RS Puram and a 34-year-old business traveller - samples were collected on Tuesday when they landed in the city. They have been admitted to private hospitals. The indigenous case is the pregnant woman. She doesn’t have a travel history and any known contact with a positive case. A health department official said the woman was tested for Covid-19 when she approached a private hospital to get admitted for delivery. She has been shifted to the ESI Hospital. G Ramesh Kumar, deputy director of public health, said, “The patient is asymptomatic and stable. Her husband is a cop who is deployed at Walayar check post. We have collected samples from him, other close family members and neighbours. There are around 12 houses in and around her residence.”

Trichy city gets third containment zone

After five people in a house tested positive for Covid-19 on Chinna Chetti Street, Trichy corporation established a containment zone in the vicinity on Wednesday, the third to be established here in the past week. Local body officials said that a 47-year-old man from Chinna Chetti Street had volunteered to get tested on June 8 at MGMGH as he had symptoms. Since he tested positive, swabs from eight of his family members residing in the street were collected of which four including three women tested positive. Officials said they found it difficult to track the travel history of the man as he was not fully cooperative.

Madurai university invents respirator-cum-ventilator

A research team from the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) has invented a ventilator-cum-respirator device (LIDS-VR) that would help prevent the spread of coronavirus while providing continuous oxygen supply for frontline workers, infected patients and healthy people. Vice chancellor of MKU, professor M Krishnan, said a team of experts - Dr T Arockia Doss, department of physics and Dr B Ashokkumar, department of genetic engineering, invented this device (LIDS-VR). They was demonstrated the device in front of Dr N Sivasubramanian, former senior scientist, Isro, who has appraised the invention.

Should TN recount casualties? Jury is out

Should TN recount casualties? Jury is out

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.06.2020

As Chennai is all set to add 236 more deaths to the state’s Covid mortality count, there is a lingering doubt on the possibility of a similar mismatch in mortalities recorded due to the virus across the state.

The doubt has also popped up the question whether a statewide exercise was needed to scrutinise records of deaths reported in the past three months and verify the causes again. The opinion is divided. While a section of health experts says that there could be underreporting and a statewide exercise to verify causes of all recent deaths is necessary, there are experts who say the case of Chennai was different from rest of the state where Covid deaths are reported diligently.

For now, the state government constituted committee has been tasked with scrutinising the records in Greater Chennai Corporation alone. Deputy directors of health services in districts and city health officers in municipal corporations across the state say they have not received any such instructions from the government.

“Under reporting would be there and chances are that it could be high. All deaths in hospitals should be declared as Covid deaths unless they are clinically proved otherwise. Domiciliary deaths should also be checked across the state,” said G R Ravindranath, general secretary of Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE). He said deaths in case of people with severe acute respiratory infections should also be recorded as suspected or probable Covid deaths. He said in addition to Rt-PCR tests, antibody tests should also be done among people and record deaths accordingly, which will give a more accurate reading of Covid mortality.

A senior public health expert, however, said that the situation in Chennai need not be same across the state as far as recording and reporting of deaths was concerned. He said the possibility of omissions in districts was less since the administrative layers were less unlike Chennai and district collectors keep a close watch in the current scenario.

“I am not ruling out under reporting. But it would be less if at all there was under reporting,” he said. He said that though there was no need for statewide verification of deaths, the government can carry out such an exercise to build credibility of the system. “They can do it at least in cities to build trust,” he said.

Health officials from various districts told TOI that there could not be under reporting in their jurisdictions. Health officials noted that in Chennai there were hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths, where in most of the districts deaths were only in single digits.

A health officer said that all the deaths are registered within three to five days. The maximum time for registering deaths is 21 days. “Village administrative officers and panchayat secretaries scrunitise each and every death and ascertain the cause. We take the help of police too and update death records every week,” said T Manivannan, city health officer and DDHS in-charge of Vellore.

Anbazhagan passes away on his birthday, 1st MLA to die of virus

Anbazhagan passes away on his birthday, 1st MLA to die of virus

Govardan.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.06.2020

DMK MLA J Anbazhagan, who passed away on his 62nd birthday at a hospital here on Wednesday, became the first legislator in the country to die of Covid-19. The Chepauk constituency member was admitted to a private hospital on June 2 after he complained of breathing difficulties. He later tested positive for Covid-19. His mortal remains were laid to rest at Kannammapet burial ground in the city.

A three-time MLA, Anbazhagan was DMK’s Chennai west district secretary. A bold loyalist of the party and its leadership, Anbazhagan always spoke his mind. If his speeches within the party forum reflected the thoughts of party workers, his oration in the state assembly rattled ruling benches.

“His condition deteriorated rapidly on Tuesday night. We could not bring him back,” said a senior doctor of Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre in Chromepet. Doctors said his condition remained critical throughout his stay. “He was on ventilator. At one point, he required lesser oxygen, and we thought he was responding well. But he had too many comorbidities,” said a doctor. “During the first phase of lockdown, for 20 days he remained at home and even advised others to stay in their homes,” said J Karunanidhi, Anbazhagan’s brother and a former DMK councillor of Chennai Corporation.

DMK MLA J Anbazhagan’s mortal remains being buried in Chennai on Wednesday

TN’s highest one-day tally of 1,927 takes count beyond 36k

TN’s highest one-day tally of 1,927 takes count beyond 36k

26,000 In City; 19,333 Patients Cured So Far

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.06.2020

Tamil Nadu reported nearly 2,000 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, its highest single-day count, and crossed the grim milestone of 36,000 cases, nearly 26,000 in Chennai alone.

Nineteen deaths were reported, taking the toll to 326. But this number does not include the 236 deaths till June 8 in Chennai that were recorded by the city’s civic body but not included in the state’s count. A 11-member panel of experts is investigating how this happened.

At the Covid-19 control rooms, health officials were counting vacant beds in hospitals, transferring and recruiting more doctors and health workers for Chennai, and mapping out red and buffer zones for micro-containment plans.

Chennai’s tally of 25,937 cases account for nearly 70% of the state’s tally, which touched 36,841 with the 1,927 cases reported on Wednesday. So far, 19,333 people have been cured and discharged from various hospitals across the state. The state has 17,179 people under treatment.

It took two months for Tamil Nadu to record 5,000 cases ever since the first case on March 7. It then took 16 more days to cross 15,000 and another 11 days to breach 25,000. Since then the state has added another 10,000 cases in just a week.

The state has added 14,518 cases since June 1, and the doubling period during the time has dropped from 16 days to two weeks. During the same time Chennai added 11,095 cases and the doubling period dropped to 13 days.

All medical college hospitals were at full capacity and those in peripheral hospitals were filling up fast.

DRESSED TO SAVE: These mannequins at a city showroom show that masks have become part of our everyday fashion wear

Recovered cases exceed active ones

The nationwide Covid-19 tally neared 2.8 lakh on Wednesday. The number of recovered patients, however, has exceeded active cases for the first time. Since June 1, 90,000 cases have been added to the national tally of confirmed cases, while nearly one-third of the overall death toll has also been reported during these 10 days.

1,239 new doctors to be appointed

The CM on Wednesday ordered appointment of 1,239 doctors and 2,834 healthcare workers on a contract basis for a three-month period. This is in addition to the 530 doctors, 4,893 nurses, 2,715 health inspectors appointed earlier. The salaries of doctors will vary between ₹60,000 and ₹75,000 a month. Lab technicians will be paid ₹15,000.

All hosps to keep 5 beds on standby: Health secretary

Data from the state dashboard showed that 68% of beds in private institutions were vacant, though some such as Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Kauvery Hospital and Fortis Hospitals had no vacant beds.

“We have told all hospitals to keep at least five beds on standby for emergency. There are 13,000 private hospital beds. We are slowly asking hospitals to set aside more beds for Covid care,” said health secretary Beela Rajesh. Meanwhile, in the government side, the state will add at least 10,000 more beds in Chennai.

On Wednesday, Chengalpet reported 182 cases while Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram registered 108 and 33 cases, respectively. Other northern districts continued their upsurge significantly contributing to the state’s Covid count.

While Vellore had 11 cases, Ranipet had 25 and Tiruvannamalai reported 26 fresh cases. In the south, Tuticorin recorded the highest increase of 23 cases, followed by Madurai which had ten fresh cases. The western region which was Covid free for a long time has begun reporting new cases every day. In Coimbatore one person was reported positive on Wednesday, while Dharmapuri and Namakkal has four each. Nilgiris and Tirupur, however, have no cases.

Four of the 19 people who died had no comorbidities. The youngest patient was a 38-year-old man with chronic kidney disease admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on June 5. He died a day after the test results turned negative on June 8. There were 13 people above the age of 60 and five in their 50s.

Chengalpet on Wednesday reported 182 cases, while Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram registered 108 and 33 cases. The western region, which was Covid free for a long time, has begun reporting new cases every day

What TN did right and where it went wrong

What TN did right and where it went wrong

In A Two-Part Series, TOI Looks At How The Pandemic Has Affected Tamil Nadu, The Way The State Govt Has Handled It, The Problem Areas And What Should Be Done

Jaya.Menon@timesgroup.com

11.06.2020

About a week ago, when Tamil Nadu’s Covid-19 dashboard showed the state was racing towards 30,000 positive cases, Greater Chennai Corporation quietly rolled out technology-based manoeuvres to contain the spread. The GCC’s strategy involved GPS trackers wherein people in containment zones in parts of north Chennai were monitored. Every time, someone moved 50 metres, the tracker would beep. The strategy teams went another step forward and introduced tele-medicine to residents in the area.

But the hi-tech surveillance and health monitor comes a little too late. Royapuram (Zone 5 of the Chennai corporation) stands out as a blot in Tamil Nadu’s war against Covid-19. With positive numbers racing to more than 5,000, close to 15% of the state’s total number of cases, the zone is an example of how the outbreak should not have been handled.

“We have been fighting hard to educate people on social distancing and importance of wearing masks,” said fisheries minister D Jayakumar, incharge of Zone 5. “Royapuram is an old town, congested and densely populated. We are now using technology to check the spread,” said the minister.

Tamil Nadu had begun its Covid innings well — scrupulously screening its initial travellers, scouring the state for the 1,000-odd Tablighi Jamaat members who were infected during a conference in Delhi. “We started off really well, with Tamil Nadu’s strong healthcare system keeping it ahead of the pack,” said National Institute of Epidemiology deputy director Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, a member of the chief minister-led task force committee. The state’s three-pronged strategy of surveillance, testing and contact tracing drew appreciation. It was meticulous, conscientious and transparent. The initial strategy was built on a sound public healthcare system and a strong lab infrastructure with its network of medical college hospitals keeping pace with the rapidly changing ICMR testing norms, said Kaur.

“We put down the lockdown on time. It was well-timed to blunt the cases going up in an exponential fashion,” said infectious diseases expert Dr V Ramasubramanian, also a member of the task force to battle Covid headed by CM Edappadi K Palaniswami. “It was beautiful for two weeks until we realised we didn’t have a sound social security system and that we hadn’t given a thought to our migrant labour force and livelihood issues,” said Dr Ramasubramanian.

Soon, as the caseload rose sharply, the system began to crumble. The Koyambedu cluster was a shocker. Chennai messed up in its slums in the northern parts of the city where congested lanes and homes provided a fertile breeding ground for the infection. The virus exploded in north Chennai where residents cocked a snook at social distancing and compulsory donning of masks. Elsewhere in the state, as the Koyambedu cluster carriers spread out to their native towns and villages, the virus hit the hinterlands. The state was further tested with the exodus of guest workers. Tamil Nadu began to flounder. “I don’t blame the government. If you have not played the game before, you don’t know the rules and you don’t play it well enough,” said well-known epidemiologist Dr Jayaprakash Muliyil, who is also a member of the National Task Forceconstituted research committee on Covid.

Lack of coordination within and across government departments and the 10-odd committees proved to be another set back. While the Covid blueprint appeared impressive, the execution through various levels of bureaucracy was flawed. Then came the decision to reduce the number of samples being tested. The numbers were erratic for a significant part of May when the lockdown continued to be strict. Experts say, TN missed the golden opportunity to contain the spread during lockdown when businesses were shut and people were forced to stay indoors. “Added to this, there was gross indiscipline and social irresponsibility. There was no adherence to social distancing, as we saw in the case of the Koyambedu cluster, and people refused to wear masks,” said Dr Ramasubramanian. The mammoth job of tracking down contacts too slowed down with an overworked team. While the government and its massive workforce slogged on the ground, people refused to cooperate.

And, finally, a lack of transparency in adding up the Covid positive numbers, mortality figures and admission that the state may have slipped up in vision and strategy began to show at the last mile — the hospitals. The growing challenge for the government now is to provide the increasing number of Covid patients good and affordable healthcare.

Email your feedback to southpole.toi@timesgroup.com

It was beautiful for two weeks until we realised we didn’t have a sound social security system and that we hadn’t given a thought to our migrant labour force and livelihood issues

— Dr V Ramasubramanian | INFECTIOUS DISEASES EXPERT

J Anbazhagan: DMK loses its bold loyalist, who never compromised

J ANBAZHAGAN 1958-2020

J Anbazhagan: DMK loses its bold loyalist, who never compromised

His Speeches, Which Sometimes Rattled Party Forums, Reflected True Feelings Of Cadres

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com  11.06.2020

In 2018, in an interview to a Tamil news channel, DMK MLA from Chepauk-Triplicane assembly segment in the city, J Anbazhagan (62), who passed away on Wednesday, had said, “No one can dictate terms to me. It does not matter whether it is a television studio, party district secretaries’ meeting or the assembly – my voice should be heard.” He was always heard.

A three-time MLA and DMK’s Chennai west district secretary, Anbazhagan was bold and forthright; hence courted controversies too. “He was an unflinching loyalist of former party president and chief minister M Karunanidhi and remained one of the few leaders who never struck compromises with the ruling AIADMK on anything and for anything,” recalls a family friend, who knew Anbazhagan from his school days.

“Kalaignar gave me a second life and I will remain loyal to him for ever,” Anbazhagan used to tell his friends, recalling a liver transplant he had to undergo in London in 1995. But, he never hesitated to speak his mind, even if it was to Karunanidhi. “You have told me. Leave it. No need to pester me over it” – Anbazhagan used to tell Karunanidhi on his face, party insiders recall. He was bold and a hardcore party cadre.

His speeches, which at times created flutters in party forums, seemingly reflected the true feelings of the party cadres. “Even a few days ago, at a virtual meeting of district secretaries, Anbazhagan questioned party president M K Stalin for ranking their performance based on reports submitted by rank outsiders (I-PAC team),” recalled a DMK leader, who did not want to be named.

Even senior party leader S Durai Murugan, known for cutting fellow leaders to size through his cryptic comments, kept a safe distance from Anbazhagan. “He takes on even ‘Thalaivar’. He may tell something on my face,” Durai Murugan used to tell partymen in private.

Being bold and loyal was in his blood. His father Jayaraman, popularly known in party circles as ‘Pazhakadai’ Jayaraman was a DMK strongman in the region; they owned a fruit shop in T Nagar and hence the moniker.

Once Anbazhagan, after his maiden election victory in 2001, took on the ruling AIADMK, headed by then chief minister J Jayalalithaa, in the state assembly with a speech that rattled the ruling benches, despite being allotted a seat (Number 234) in the remotest corner. Later, when he went to DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam, Karunanidhi’s nephew Murasoli Maran hugged him. “You are ‘Pazhakadai’ Jayaraman’s son and you proved it,” senior Maran told him. Whenever Anbazhagan rose to speak, the ruling benches used to get jittery; and invariably, all his speeches ended in uproar in the House.

With inputs from Pushpa Narayan

BIDDING ADIEU: DMK workers near the Kannammapettai crematorium, where J Anbazhaagan was buried

Party leaders condole death

Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Condolences poured in as the news of death of DMK MLA J Anbazhagan spread. Governor Banwarilal Purohit, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam and leaders of various parties have sent their condolences. “News about the death J Anbazhagan was as though both lightning and thunder came together and struck. Anbu was a close friend whom I have lost now and when will I ever see your face,” said DMK president M K Stalin in an emotional condolence. Party flags would fly at half-mast for three days and party organised welfare events were being postponed, the DMK chief said.