A male gaur was killed after being knocked down by a vehicle on the Tiruchi-Madurai national highway at Thuvarankurichi in the district on Thursday. 

The accident occurred at the crack of dawn when the animal was crossing the highway. The gaur was about 12 years old. 

On receipt of information, field-level Forest Department staff rushed to the spot. A postmortem was done on the carcass which was subsequently buried inside the reserve forest at Thuvarankurichi, said the department sources.

The State government is closely monitoring the rainfall situation and the forecasts and taking steps in consultation with the district administrations to prevent damages, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K.A. Sengottaiyan said here on Thursday.

So far, there had been no loss of life in Tamil Nadu because of rain. “Though we cannot control nature, we have a responsibility to safeguard people from natural vagaries. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, over the past three months, had initiated various measures and was reviewing the progress of work taken up under various departments,” Mr. Sengottaiyan said, answering a query on the measures taken by the government to handle the heavy rainfall in Chennai and prediction of extreme weather due to Super El Nino.

As far as Chennai was concerned, the city had been divided into 15 zones and IAS officers had been put in charge of each and a team of seven ministers had been formed to monitors the progress of work, he said.

The Minister was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting with district officials to review of the progress of work taken up under his departments in the district.

Commenting on the DMK’s claims that there was no inundation due to the storm-water drainages built under its rule over the past five years, Mr. Sengottaiyan maintained that the DMK government did not complete the works fully. “Over the past four months 40% of the pending works have been expedited and completed,” he said.

Answering a query on delay in issue of patta applications due to shortage of surveyors, Mr. Sengottaiyan pointed out that 1,500 surveyors have been recruited temporarily and they would join duty after completing two months training in Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Sengottaiyan said that the Chief Minister was keen that house site pattas were issued to over 20 lakh beneficiaries by next December and steps were being to expedite the process.

On the problems faced in reading the biometric data of some beneficiaries drawing old age pension, the Minister said that steps were being taken to overcome this with the help of banks.

Speaking at the review meeting earlier, Mr. Sengottaiyan urged the officials to expedite the issue of house site pattas and work taken up under his departments, including ensuring steps to prevent inundation during monsoon and free flow of water in stormwater drains.

Mr. Sengottaiyan, along with J. Mohamed Farvas, Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development, distributed welfare assistance worth ₹4.38 crore to 1,384 beneficiaries at Viralimalai in Pudukottai district during the day. Former Minister C. Vijayabaskar and Collector M. Aruna attended the meeting.

Track doubling work between Aduthurai and Sundaraperumal Koil via Kumbakonam is expected to commence in January 2027 as the Southern Railway Construction Organisation has floated tender for its execution days after the Railway Board, New Delhi, accorded sanction for this multi-crore project. 

The Southern Railway Construction Organisation, Chennai, has issued a Request for Proposal for the construction of the double line as well as for the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of Overhead Head Equipment (OHE) on the 21.5-km broad gauge stretch between Aduthurai and Sundaraperumal Koil under the Tiruchi Railway Division.

The Request for Proposal was issued a few days ago to invite and identify the agencies for executing the project. The Railway Board had given its nod on October 1 for the project and asked the Southern Railway Construction Organisation, Chennai, to execute it. The project was sanctioned under the umbrella work of doubling/tripling/quadrupling/multitracking to augment the railway capacity network. It is to be executed in connection with the 10-day Mahamaham festival being celebrated at Kumbakonam from February 29 to March 9, 2028. 

The project involves construction of a major bridge across the Arasalar adjacent to the existing bridge near Kumbakonam. Extension of 61 minor culverts along the stretch forms part of the project. 

The OHE works would be carried out parallel to other works, railway sources told The Hindu. The existing platforms would be widened and a new loop line would be introduced in Aduthurai and Sundaraperumal Koil — both of which are block stations.

As the project required acquisition of nine hectares of land, the relevant documents were under the final stage of preparation. It would be submitted to the State government before this month. The Southern Railway Construction Organisation has planned to complete the project in one year from the time of its commencement, the sources said. 

Track doubling would enable the Southern Railway to operate additional trains to and from Kumbakonam in connection with the Mahamaham festival which is expected to attract a large number of devotees.

A mega project of redeveloping the Kumbakonam railway station at a cost of ₹99.8 crore is on for the Mahamaham festival. It is also being executed by the Southern Railway Construction Organisation.

The prices of flowers have skyrocketed in Tiruchi market due to sharp rise in demand in view of Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja, which is celebrated on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

According to sources, 1 kg of jasmine was quoted at ₹800 on Sunday as against ₹100 on normal days. Similarly, 1 kg of mullai and jathi flowers was sold for ₹800. On normal days, they are sold for ₹80 to ₹100 per kg.

Similarly, the price of sevvanthi, which is usually used for making garlands, went up manifold. One kg of sevvanthi was sold at ₹300. The prices of sambangi, vellai sevvanthi, and marigolundu also witnessed a sharp rise.

Traders and local vendors attribute the steep escalation to festive demand-supply mismatch. They attribute to recent weather conditions affecting crop yields in agricultural belts in Hosur, Mecheri, and Thoppur.

“Navarathiri period is the best selling season in a year. There is a huge demand for flowers as all shops and commercial establishments will invariably be decorated with flowers and garlands on the day of Ayudha puja. It has pushed up the prices of flowers sharply,” says R. Parthiban of BMS Flowers Commission Mandi in Tiruchi.

Seasonal flower merchants, who buy flowers at the wholesale markets in Tiruchi and Satharaveedhi in Srirangam and sell them by stringing, have increased the prices rapidly. They sell one foot of jasmine, mullai and jathi flowers at ₹150 on Sunday. One feet of mix of flowers was quoted at ₹70 to ₹80.

But, the high cost of flowers and other puja items did not dampen the spirit of the buyers. Right from Gandhi Market to local markets in different parts of the city witnessed heavy crowds ahead of the Ayudha puja and Saraswati puja. The markets witnessed brisk business all through the day on Sunday. 

The Social Council of National Institute of Technology – Tiruchi (NIT-T) conducted ‘HumaNITTy ’26’, a week-long community outreach initiative as part of observing the nationwide “Daan Utsav” initiative recently.

The programme brought together students and the wider NIT-T fraternity to support orphanages, old-age homes, and special-care centres in and around Tiruchi.

In her inaugural address, NIT-T director G. Aghila emphasised the importance of spreading awareness of HumaNITTy’s activities and impact across organisations and other educational institutions in Tiruchi and surrounding regions.

She urged the organisers to broaden the outreach to throughout the year, rather than limiting it to one week.

The event concluded with a banner signing by the director followed by others present as a show of solidarity for HumaNITTy.

Daily visits to charitable organisations around Tiruchi and an in-house event on October 11 called “Gala for Kids” for underprivileged schoolchildren, were part of the schedule.

The city stretch of the Tiruchi-Dindgul Highway is emerging as yet another risky section for commuters with several congested intersections between the Periya Milaguparai and Dheeran Nagar.

Although the State Highways Department had strengthened and built a concrete median along the stretch a few years ago, the openings at medians at various places are now emerging as traffic hotspots, complain local residents.

Residents in areas living on either sides have to necessarily cross over the highway during their daily commute. “Of late, residents are facing a harrowing experience along the highway stretch from Periya Milaguparai to Dheeran Nagar. Hundreds of residents commuting by two wheelers, cars, buses, autorickshaws, and most importantly senior citizens, find it extremely difficult to cross the roads at various points,” said C. Balasubramanian, honorary advisor, District Exnora and a former member of the District Road Safety Council.

Mr. Balasubramanian said there were nearly a dozen intersections/median openings on the city stretch of highway of about 3 km. “We have openings at Selva Nagar, Railway Officers Club Entrance, National College, Vinayaga Nagar, Karumandapam, Thiru Nagar, RMS Colony, Jaya Nagar, Sakthi Nagar, and Dheeran Nagar. A few of these crossing may be crossed,” he said and called for better road furniture to ease the traffic flow.

“Some of intersections such as the ones at Karumandapam, Selva Nagar and Dheeran Nagar are highly congested and crossing them amidst the oncoming highway traffic is a nightmare,” said Kasinathan, a resident.

While city traffic police sources point out that barricades had been placed along the highway stretch to slow down vehicles at the intersections, residents say much more needs to be done.

Signage indicating road crossings, rumbling strips, and other appropriate road furniture could be installed at these intersections, residents say. At present, rumble strips are available at the Karumandapam intersection.

“Minor accidents are frequent; many escape from accidents by a whisker. Yet, the police have turned a blind eye towards the issue despite repeated requests,” Mr. Balasubramanian said calling for deployment of traffic police personnel at least during the peak hours at important intersections.

The bridge across the Cauvery on the Chennai-Tiruchi–Madurai National Highway was reopened for traffic on Thursday evening, after completion of repair and maintenance work taken up by the National Highways Authority of India since the last week of June.

Extensive repair work sanctioned at an estimated cost of about ₹10 crore were carried out on the bridge, built in 1963.

The repair work included replacing 120 bridge bearings and repairing 16 strip-seal expansion joints, and carrying out structural strengthening measures. The bridge was last repaired in 2010. Sources in the NHAI told The Hindu that all the 120 bearings had been replaced and repairs on the 16 expansion joints completed.

The reopening of the bridge for traffic would come as a big relief to commuters as the Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass and the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road in Srirangam had been facing severe traffic congestion ever since it was closed for repair work on June 25.

The bridge was closed on June 25 to facilitate repairs by the NHAI’s concessionaire maintaining the section. Traffic had been diverted via the other carriageway between Sanjeevi Nagar Junction and Kondayampettai. Although the City Traffic police had deployed a team to manage the situation, traffic snarls on the highway and within the city had become frequent. The closure of the bridge had resulted in a large number of drivers using the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road which runs across Srirangam to and from the NH and residents of Srirangam had been complaining of harrowing experiences during their daily commute in recent months because of severe traffic congestion on the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road between No. 1 Tollgate and the Anna Statue Junction.

Given the heavy volume of traffic on the highway and the approaching festival season, Tiruchi Member of Parliament Durai Vaiko had been pushing the NHAI to expedite the work. Mr. Durai Vaiko expressed happiness over the completion of the work and cooperation extended by various government agencies.

S. Aneesh Sekhar, director, National Health Mission (NHM), Tamil Nadu, and Tiruchi Corporation Commissioner N. Ponmani reviewed the steps taken to prevent the spread of dengue in the city on Saturday.

Checks were conducted in the Corporation’s Zone No. 4 on Patthammal Street, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, and Marsingpettai, Wards 52 and 65 on Saturday. T. Manivannan, District Health Officer, and senior officials were present during the spot checks, according to an official press release.

Corporation Commissioner Ms. Ponmani urged the public to seek treatment for dengue from government hospitals, which have been stocked up with adequate amount of medicines. As part of the prevention drive, hollow objects such as discarded vehicle tyres, empty boxes, and other spaces where water could stagnate, were disposed safely.

The dengue virus is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes and steps are being taken to control proliferation of mosquitoes through regular fumigation of public spaces in Tiruchi.

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.