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.

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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.

Lawyer uses filthy language in ‘virtual court’, fined

Lawyer uses filthy language in ‘virtual court’, fined

A.Subramani@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.06.2020

Call it the perils of virtual courts. A lawyer of 30-year Bar experience uttered a filthy phrase in Tamil, instinctively on seeing a rashly driven car on road, forgetting the fact that he was still in the middle of his argument in a virtual court. He was pulled up by the judge for it and fined, too.

G Samwell Rajendran was arguing a bail case from near a road on Monday, when he spotted a dangerously driven car whizzing past. He exclaimed, using a filthy phrase in Tamil, as to how reckless the driver was. That he uttered it in virtual court while the judge and other court employees were watching, was the offence.

Irked by the ‘filthy, offensive and intimidatory’ words, the principal district and sessions judge of Thoothukudi, N Logeswaran, initiated summary contempt proceedings against the lawyer and issued him a show-cause notice. On Tuesday, not satisfied by the explanation offered by the lawyer, the court slapped ₹200 as fine for causing ‘intentional interruption to judicial proceedings.’ The fine is to be paid by June 10.

“This court is of the view that even an uneducated village man will not utter the filthy language in a public place... This court finds that the accused has insulted the principal district judge sitting in the judicial proceedings during working hours, and committed an offence under Section 228 (intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceedings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” said sessions judge Logeswaran.

The order was communicated to Rajendran through email and to his Whatsapp number, and it will be uploaded to the official website of the district court.

The judge, who himself lodged the complaint, mentioned how the prosecutor, woman stenographer, protocol officer and a couple of other court officials who were present in the virtual court and witnessed the ugly incident too gave a ‘written report’ to the judge about the incident.

In order to pre-empt any penal action, Rajendran wrote to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry explaining the incident. It, however, did not help, as the court concluded that the remarks were an ‘intentional insult in the course of judicial proceedings.’

OBJECTION OVERRULED: G Samwell Rajendran, who has 30 years of law practice behind him, uttered a filthy phrase in Tamil when a car sped past him, forgetting the fact that he was in an ongoing virtual hearing. His explanations cut little ice with the judge

Govt hires 1.2K more doctors, health workers

Govt hires 1.2K more doctors, health workers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.06.2020

As Covid-19 cases continued to surge in Tamil Nadu, the government on Wednesday announced recruitment 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 and 1,508 lab technicians the health and family welfare department hired earlier.

An official release said chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has ordered the appointment of 574 post-graduates at a monthly salary of ₹75,000 and 665 more doctors (graduates) at ₹60,000 a month. The lab technicians and 1,230 multipurpose healthcare personnel will be paid between ₹12,000 and ₹15,000. Orders were being issued and they are in the process of joining duty, health minister C Vijayabaskar told mediapersons on Wednesday and added that this would lessen the burden of doctors and other healthcare workers. Beds in government hospitals in Chennai will also be increased from about 5,000 beds to 10,000.

City cut off, no mad rush for train tickets

MANY SEATS AVAILABLE

City cut off, no mad rush for train tickets

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.06.2020

There was no mad rush to book tickets when reservations opened on Wednesday for the additional trains on Chengalpet-Trichy-Chengalpet and Arakonam-Coimbatore-Arakonam routes scheduled to run from Friday.

Railway officials say the sluggish demand for seats is because the trains do not touch Chennai, because it is a red zone and the state government has requested railways to operate services within the state without touching the state capital.

Tickets are sold out in minutes for trains during summer but around 1,000 second sitting seats are available on Chengalpet-Trichy train and 146 sleeper class seats on Chengalpet-Trichy train via Mayiladuthurai for travel on Friday. However, there was demand for second seating on the train via Mayiladuthurai as booking status touched waitlist 2 by Wednesday evening. Officials say this could be because several people from southern suburbs of Chennai may be travelling to Kumbakonam or Mayiladuthurai. There are several seats vacant for trains scheduled to depart on Saturday and Sunday. There are hardly any takers for the Arakonam-Coimbatore intercity train as 1,545 second sitting seats and 90 AC chair car seats are available for travel on Friday. The train has around 1,700 second sitting seats.

A railway official said, “Reservations is likely to pick up in the coming days. The services were started after a request from the state government because there was a feedback that there will be demand on these routes. The government wants to start trains within the state in a phased manner. A request was sent to the railway board and the routes were approved.” Several people who live in southern suburbs of Tambaram and Chengalpet often travel to Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai and Trichy.

Though the idea behind starting the service from Chengalpet is to discourage residents of Chennai from travelling, people can still board the trains as cabs are available. “These trains will be useful for people as more lockdown relaxations are expected,” he added.

Southern Railway, following the state government’s request, is already operating some special trains connecting cities like Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy. The Chennai to Delhi Rajdhani specials from Chennai is the only popular train.