A bomb threat mock exercise was conducted at the Tiruchi international airport on Friday to assess the preparedness, coordination, and response capabilities of various agencies in handling a simulated bomb threat to an aircraft and the terminal building.

The nearly two-hour exercise was planned in two phases — covering an aircraft-related bomb threat and a terminal building evacuation scenario. The drill involved coordinated participation of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Air Traffic Services, airline representatives, Intelligence Bureau, Airport Police, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, Customs, Immigration and other stakeholders.

The Airport Director functioned as the Coordinator of the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. During the simulated aircraft scenario, the participating agencies demonstrated their procedures for communication, threat assessment, coordination, aircraft security, and search operations. The exercise covered the handling of a simulated suspicious baggage situation and the coordination required among security, fire, medical, airline, and other agencies.

The second scenario involved a simulated bomb threat in the terminal building followed by an orderly evacuation of passengers and staff to the designated safe assembly areas. The CISF, AAI, Fire and Rescue Services, airport stakeholders and other agencies participated in the evacuation and security response.

The mock exercise was designed to test inter-agency coordination, communication, operational preparedness, evacuation procedures and emergency response while identifying areas for further improvement. The exercise concluded with a debriefing of the participating agencies and observers, according to a press release from G. Gopalakrishnan, Airport Director, Tiruchi.

A team comprising Forest Department and Fire and Rescue Services personnel rescued a crocodile from the Rettamalai area in the outskirts of Tiruchi city on Monday (September 7, 2026) and safely released it at Kallanai in a suitable natural habitat.

Acting on information in the morning that a crocodile had strayed near a shed where labourers resided in Rettamalai area near Koraiyar, the team immediately rushed to the spot.

The joint team armed with necessary paraphernalia safely secured the crocodile from the spot. Necessary precautions were taken and the reptile was transported and safely released at Kallanai near Tiruchi around 12.30 p.m. in a natural habitat, said the Forest Department authorities.

Further increase in procurement price, announced by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in the State Assembly on Monday, is set to boost the milk procurement of the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited, which markets milk under the Aavin brand.

The State government had increased the procurement price on August 19 from ₹39 to ₹ 41 a litre. However, it did not go well with farmers and cooperative societies. They contended that it was highly insufficient as input cost went up sharply in recent years. Aavin officials felt that it was not proportionate to the prices offered by the private dairies that offered ₹44 to ₹45 a litre.

Taking into account various factors, Mr. Vijay announced a further increase in procurement price to ₹44 a litre. It means that the average procurement price goes up by ₹6 a litre. As per the statement by the Chief Minister, it will cost ₹60 crore a month and ₹720 crore a year and the government will compensate Aavin for the additional amount.

The federation procures 38 lakh litres a day in normal circumstances. It reaches its peak in December and January. The procurement, according to official sources, came down to 32 lakh litres a day in February. It has come down to about 28 lakh litres, forcing the federation to trim its supply to the agents for daily sales. As against the 16 lakh litres of requirement of milk in Chennai, the federation markets only 14 lakh litres.

Though the prevailing dry weather and hot conditions were said to be the main reason for the slump in milk procurement, better prices offered by private dairies was a major reason. Officials said the increase in procurement price will certainly bring back farmers who had switched over to private dairies.

An Aavin official told The Hindu that it was a great relief to the federation. With the competitive prices, farmers would again supply milk to cooperative societies. It would gradually improve the average procurement. However, the State government should increase the selling prices correspondingly. Otherwise, the financial health of the federation would bet hit severely.

Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna’s assurance in the Assembly on executing the new road proposed along the Uyyakondan river banks in Tiruchi has brought a sigh of relief for residents whose daily commute has turned into a harrowing experience because of the worsening traffic congestion on the narrow Vayalur Road.

Uncertainty prevailed over the plan to build the new road proposed between the MGR Statue Junction and Sunnambukaranpatti, along the banks of the Uyyakondan, following the change of government in the State earlier this year.

The road was conceived a few years ago during the previous DMK regime as an alternative to the heavily congested Vayalur Road. The road was expected to serve as an alternative route to the Tiruchi-Kuzhumani-Jeeyapuram Road, a major district road (MDR-461), as well as the Allithurai-Thogamalai Road (MDR-12). It would link the city with the inner link road, being developed along the Koraiyar and Kudamuritti river banks by the Tiruchi Corporation, and the semi-ring road to be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), connecting the major national highways around the city.

Although the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the road was drawn up by the Projects Wing of the Department of Highways initially, it was decided later that the road would be developed by the Water Resources Department (WRD) which has jurisdiction over the bunds along the river. The WRD had been awaiting administrative sanction for the project when the change of government took place and doubts had been raised over the fate of the project here.

The Minister, in response to a query raised by Tiruchi West MLA K.N. Nehru on Monday had said that the project would be executed.

N. Rajendran of Vayalur, who had expressed apprehensions over the fate of the project then, welcomed the announcement by the Minister in the State Assembly. However, Mr. Rajendran said it was essential that the road was built with service lanes alongside for access to residential colonies to prevent internal traffic from joining the new road. “Otherwise, the new road would become congested. Commercial development too should not be allowed along the new road unless they have provisions for service lanes,” Mr. Rajendran said.

Local residents had been anxious to see the project executed expeditiously to decongest the Vayalur Road. “The traffic congestion is turning from bad to worse on the Vayalur Road. The new road is badly needed to give an alternative route. The proposal should be executed at the earliest,” said V. Sundararaju, social activist and resident of Srinivasa Nagar.

The new two-lane road, with a width of 7.5 metres, was proposed to developed at total cost of ₹186 crore, including about ₹65 crore earmarked for land acquisition. About 40,000 sq. m. of lands would have to be acquired for the project.

An elevated structure was planned across the Puthur Weir and aqueduct, the confluence point of the Uyyakondan, the Koraiyar, and the Kudamuritti rivers, along with a high-level rotary connecting the new link road being built by the Tiruchi Corporation along the Koraiyar bund from Panjapur (near the Integrated Bus Stand) to the Karur Highway. However, WRD sources said the final shape of the project would emerge after details of the financial allocation were available.

The Tiruchi Railway Division conducted a full-scale joint disaster management mock exercise at the Tiruchi Goods Yard here on Friday along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to assess the effectiveness of emergency response, inter-agency coordination, and communication.

The nearly two-hour long drill carried out under the leadership of Divisional Railway Manager Balak Ram Negi saw the participation of NDRF 4th Battalion based in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police, Civil Defence and different railway departments.

Lalit Kumar Mansukhani, Principal Chief Safety Officer, Southern Railway, along with two Deputy Chief Safety Officers, reviewed the drill to assess the response arrangements and coordination among various agencies. 

The simulated scenario involved a major train accident with derailment / capsizing of three coaches and a smoke/ fire situation. The exercise covered activation of emergency arrangements, mobilisation of rescue and medical resources, fire response, specialised search and rescue, casualty extrication, medical triage, evacuation and restoration activities. 

The NDRF and railway rescue teams carried out specialised search, rescue and casualty extrication operations, while the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services undertook the simulated fire response. Medical teams established triage and casualty-management arrangements, including first aid and evacuation.

After the conclusion of the drill, a special debriefing session was organised with the participation of all stakeholders. The drill reinforced the importance of preparedness and teamwork in ensuring passenger safety during emergencies, a press release from the Tiruchi Division said.

An initiative to plant 200 saplings of tabebuia rosea around the Teppakulam near the base of the Rockfort was inaugurated by Mayor M. Anbazhagan and Tiruchi District Collector Pratik Tayal on Monday.

According to an official press release, the saplings, 10-foot tall, were sponsored by Saratha’s, a prominent textile showroom in Tiruchi.

The sapling plantation drive is part of the facelift by the Tiruchi Corporation of the N.S.B Road and its surroundings. A proposal for the beautification project, with an estimated budget of ₹25 crore, that will include the establishment of a public park and walking trails, had been sent for approval by the government, said the announcement.

P. Annadurai, chief engineer of the corporation, and Roshan Manavalan, managing director of Saratha’s, were present.

The Society of Indian Hand Surgery and Microsurgeons (SIHSAM), Tiruchi Orthopaedic Society, Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association, and the Indian Orthopaedic Association, co-hosted a symposium dedicated to Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) surgery in the city recently.

Over 200 delegates from 25 countries participated in the programme held on August 7 and 8 in Tiruchi. WALANT enables many upper and lower limb procedures to be performed safely without general anaesthesia, regional blocks, or a tourniquet. The technique minimises anaesthesia-related risks, promotes faster recovery, reduces healthcare costs, and makes surgery more accessible, particularly for elderly patients, those with multiple medical illnesses, and individuals who may not tolerate prolonged anaesthesia, according to a press communication.

As part of the symposium, Donald H. Lalonde, Canadian pioneer of the WALANT technique, demonstrated its principles through live and recorded surgical demonstrations.

Experts from across the globe discussed the scientific evidence, economic advantages, patient safety, implementation challenges, and WALANT in different healthcare systems. The inaugural Prof. George A. Anderson oration of the SIHSAM was delivered by Dr. Lalonde on the theme ‘WALANT – Origins and the Future’, during the programme.

Tiruchi’s cityscape has undergone drastic changes in recent years, indicating socio-economic growth. However, though the city is home to big brand showrooms and has an expanding luxury hotel sector, it still does not have a shopping mall.

Despite its multicultural population of travellers, professionals, and students, shopping is restricted to the commercial districts of the city.

Real estate developers said the situation may soon change as a number of new projects coming up in Tiruchi’s suburbs could spur the entry of shopping malls.

“A mall is a large business area that requires at least two acres of space. Tiruchi’s inner areas are too saturated, which is why they have not been able to accommodate a shopping mall so far. However, of late, as the urbanisation spreads out, we have seen the announcements of projects by major luxury hotel brands and information technology companies coming up in the next few years that will boost the economic potential of the city,” A. Nazurudeen, president, Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), Tiruchi chapter, told The Hindu.

Among these is the Bharath Shopping Mall planned on the Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass, with an estimated budget of ₹140 crore, scheduled to be completed in 2029. “Historically, Tiruchi’s real estate sector has always been steady. It may appear slow when compared to other cities but the market remains stable,” said M. Noor Mohamed, director, Bharath Flat Promoters, whose company is behind the mall project.

Set in a layout of approximately 5 lakh sq. ft, the mall will include a five-screen multiplex, food court, and a department store franchise. “Our aim is to include options for customers of various age groups and economic backgrounds. We are expecting our mall to attract not just shoppers, but also to generate at least 3,000 jobs for local residents,” he added.

The damaged exercise equipment at the open gym on Race Course Road in Tiruchi.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Regular walkers around the Anna Stadium on Race Course Road in the city have complained of poor maintenance of the walking track and the open gyms and parks established alongside.

The walkers track attracts a large number of residents in the locality during mornings and evenings. The Tiruchi Corporation, a few years ago, developed the track and established a couple of open gyms and roadside parks. Although the facilities were well patronised, over a period of time, many equipment at the gyms were damaged or had worn out, users complain.

In a recent representation to the Tiruchi Corporation Commissioner, the coordinators of the Walkers Association of Race Course Road, D. Annadurai, H. Ghouse Baig, and K. Thomas, said the walkers track and the associate facilities were languishing without proper upkeep.

“Plants along the walking track are withering for want for regular watering. The decorative lamps have been damaged and are not functional. Since the track and the parks are being used regularly by walkers, youth and children, they should be properly maintained,” they said in the representation.

“ A public toilet has not been opened for more than a year. The equipment at the open gym opposite to EVR College have remained broken for a year now. There are four light fittings in the gym. But only one light is functioning. In the nearby children’s park there are two light posts but none are functioning,” Mr. Baig told The Hindu.

Another open gym and children’s park were opened in the same track opposite to the camp office of CE/PWD in recent months. But the gym and the park do not have lighting at all.

“A lot of public money was spent on developing the walking zone. But the prevailing state of affairs is baffling and walkers do not feel at home. Despite repeated reminders the issues have not been set right,” Mr. Baig said.

Corporation sources said bushes alongside the walking track were cleaned recently.