Vijay Karur visit LIVE: Tamil Nadu CM reaches venue

“Sometimes there is news of medical mismanagement by unqualified staff. To ensure everyone can be identified, we are starting this system,” West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said. File | He also reviewed the progress of the hospital monitoring and central control system.Mr. Adhikari also promised multiple health facility upgrades across the State. He was accompanied by the Health Minister Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee and other senior departmental officials.“We have live monitoring of the control room so that no ‘tout’ who is seen in any hospital premises, cannot be seen the next day. One of the biggest aims of this control room is to remove brokers,” Mr. Adhikari said. He added that the system will help identify touts who misuse the system and exploit people in the hospitals.The CM also added that they will start a colour-coded badge system for all health workers based on their level of duties. “Sometimes there is news of medical mismanagement by unqualified staff. To ensure everyone can be identified, we are starting this system,” the CM added.He said that they will work towards better safety and security for healthcare workers. Mr. Adhikari stated that hospitals should be monitored completely, including the outside premises, kitchens, parking lots, fair price shops, and common areas, so that any adverse situations can be solved immediately.Mr. Adhikari also said that the State-run hospitals are not equipped to handle major emergency health crises and that they have asked to increase the number of ICU beds for trauma care. “Provide a place for families of patients to stay, they should not be staying on roads. Make sheds and bathrooms for them,” Mr. Adhikari said. He also added that ICU beds are now at 112 per hospital and that they plan to increase it to at least 200 for each hospital.The State Health Minister said that this pilot project will slowly be launched across the State in all State, district, and sub-divisional hospitals, and all of them will be monitored from the Health Department headquarters. Officials said that they hope that the program will become State-wide by the end of July.Meanwhile, in a related development, on Thursday (July 9, 2026), the family of a patient at the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital alleged that a female patient was administered expired saline in the State-run hospital. Mr. Mukherjee has said that the government will conduct an enquiry into the matter. Published - July 10, 2026 10:53 am IST

Search and rescue operation under way at the site of the debris slip that struck the under-construction Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin tunnel project, in Wayanad district on Thursday. | Despite torrential rain and a heavy influx of debris, rescue teams pushed through the adverse weather on the third day of the challenging mission, bringing the confirmed death toll from Tuesday’s disaster to six.According to officials supervising the operations under the State government and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the mission is nearing completion, with only two people still reported missing. Fire and Rescue Services personnel said they would intensify searches in the Meenakshi river to trace them.Two of the three victims recovered on Thursday have been identified as Rahul Sharma, an engineer from Himachal Pradesh, and Mohammad Imran, an excavator operator from Bihar. Following post-mortem examinations at the Vythiri taluk hospital, their bodies were shifted to the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital for embalming prior to repatriation.Meanwhile, seven injured workers remain hospitalised, with several under observation in the intensive care unit.The disaster unfolded near the Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi on July 7, where continuous rainfall reportedly triggered a subterranean erosion creating hollow underground cavities.Revenue department sources said the sub-terrain erosion caused a massive collapse of earth at the construction site of the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin-tube tunnel road under construction. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Fire and Rescue Services, and local teams continued to scour the mudflow in search of the remaining one and to address the concerns of the evacuated local residents.After visiting the site to review rescue efforts, Minister for Public Works (PWD) P.K. Basheer said the rescue squads encountered a challenging situation as the continuous rains hindered the debris clearance at the site. Experts had already warned of secondary land slips if large-scale removal was carried out fast, he said, adding that only the safest measures would be adopted at the risky site.Mr. Basheer also clarified that the firm behind the tunnel road construction had been asked to remove the excavated earth as recently as July 1 but it dismissed the warnings.The police have registered a case of unnatural death, and the State Cabinet has ordered two independent high-level inquiries into safety and environmental violations, he said.Centre’s supportAdditionally, Mr. Basheer announced the Centre’s assurance on possible financial assistance for the construction of the Bairakuppa bridge, with the foundation stone expected to be laid this November. A joint departmental meeting would be convened to expedite the pending survey for the Poozhithode-Padinjarathara alternative route, he said.Agriculture Minister T. Siddique who camped at the spot to coordinate the rescue efforts made it clear that the residents of the nearby Chooralmala region would not face transit or connectivity issues. Wayanad District Collector has been directed to list local families to streamline the distribution of special food rations and uninterrupted medical care. Debris piled along roadsides will also be systematically removed, he said. Published - July 09, 2026 08:25 pm IST

Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy chairs a review meeting of the SC Sub-Plan Nodal Agency at the State Secretariat in Amaravati on Thursday. | Chairing a meeting of the SC Sub-Plan Nodal Agency at the State Secretariat in Amaravati on Thursday (July 9, 2026), the Minister reviewed department-wise expenditure and progress under the scheme.Addressing officials, the Minister said the State government had earmarked ₹20,643 crore for the SC Sub-Plan during the current financial year, and instructed every department to prepare detailed action plans to ensure timely and effective utilisation of the funds. He stressed that every rupee allocated under the Sub-Plan must be spent exclusively for the welfare and development of Scheduled Castes.Mr. Veeranjaneya Swamy also called upon departments to make optimum use of Central government schemes and financial assistance to strengthen welfare initiatives. He said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was committed to the comprehensive socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes, and urged officials to work with sincerity and dedication to realise that objective. Published - July 09, 2026 04:56 pm IST

The three accounts of the TMC were made debit-frozen the very next day following the registration of the FIR. File photo | A complaint was lodged on June 18 before the Cyber Crime Police Station of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, alleging that the three accounts of the TMC in a private bank were repositories of proceeds of crime and the police authorities concerned were requested to take steps.The three accounts were made debit-frozen the very next day following the registration of the FIR on June 18.Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya appointed retired Calcutta High Court judge Subrata Talukdar as a special officer for running the day-to-day expenses of the Mamata Banerjee-led group till September 30, 2026.Leaders of the other party faction, led by TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, lodged the police complaint that led to the freezing of debit transactions from the three accounts.Justice Bhattacharyya permitted any two authorised signatories of the three bank accounts to present a cheque before the special officer, which will thereafter be presented before the bank authority for encashment.The court clarified that the petitioner is permitted to operate bank accounts for day-to-day expenditures only to run the political party.On a plea by the petitioner, Justice Bhattacharyya permitted transactions to meet legal expenditure of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the honorarium of Rs 1.25 lakh per month of the special officer from the three bank accounts till September 30.The court directed the special officer to file a report disclosing the statement of expenditure incurred during the period on the next date of hearing.The court also asked the bank authority to preserve electronic records and banking data of the three accounts and to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation.The police authority was directed to file a report on the progress of the investigation on the next date of hearing on September 21.Noting that the issue of recognition of a faction of the TMC is pending before the Election Commission, the court directed that the commission's decision be brought to the court's notice if it is decided by the poll body, for vacating this interim order.Senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the petitioner - the Mamata Banerjee-aligned Trinamool Congress - said that the complainants are part of a faction of the party formed after the declaration of the West Bengal Assembly election results on May 4, 2026, with the "oblique motive" of crippling a political party.He further stated that the difference in vote share in the poll results between the TMC and the BJP is five per cent.Mr. Singhvi contended that the complainants were also beneficiaries of funds from these bank accounts to contest the assembly elections on TMC tickets.The petitioner prayed for a direction upon the police authorities to permit the operation of the three debit-frozen bank accounts.Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, representing the police authorities, stated before the court that the investigating agency, on receipt of the complaint, had to take steps expeditiously in order to prevent the petitioner (Mamata Banerjee-aligned faction) from making illegal transactions on those three bank accounts.He stated that the other faction of the party is also seeking recognition as the official group of the TMC and that it is for the Election Commission of India to take a decision on the issue. Published - July 09, 2026 03:53 pm IST

Kerala Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan (file) | Senior party leaders M V Govindan and M V Jayarajan accompanied Mr. Vijayan during the visit.After inspecting the disaster site, Mr. Vijayan visited the relief camp and later met the injured at the hospital. He also enquired with doctors about the condition of those undergoing treatment.Rain continued in the area during his visit.The death toll in the Wayanad landslide rose to five on Thursday after two more bodies were recovered from the disaster site, while three persons remained missing.The debris slip occurred on July 7 at the site of the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project, which is being undertaken to improve connectivity between Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.Chief Minister V D Satheesan had said that of the 10 persons injured in the incident, three had been discharged, four were hospitalised in stable condition, while three others were in the intensive care unit, including two who were in a critical condition. Published - July 09, 2026 11:23 am IST

The Commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice K.N. Basha, constituted by the Tamil Nadu government to recommend legislation to prevent caste-based crimes committed in the name of honour, has sought more time to complete its consultations, Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu said on Wednesday.Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat in Chennai after participating in the review meeting of the Social Justice Department chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, the Minister said the Commission was still receiving petitions and representations from victims through social activists and had also sought the views of political parties.“Justice Basha Commission is still receiving petitions and representations from victims through social activists. It has also sought the views of political parties. So far, the VCK and the CPI(M) have submitted their representations to the Commission. We have apprised the Chief Minister in this regard. As the consultative process is still ongoing, Justice Basha has sought more time,” he said.The Social Justice Department had sought an additional budgetary allocation from the Chief Minister. The allocation for the department would see a substantial increase in this year’s Budget, he said adding that the State government was taking measures to provide house-site pattas to every eligible SC/ST family, and the Chief Minister would make an announcement in this regard soon.Further, the Minister said Social Justice hostels across the State would be upgraded with state-of-the-art facilities, including modern libraries. He also said the number of seats under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Scholarship for Higher Education for studying abroad would be increased from the present 180, as the Chief Minister has given his approval. Published - July 09, 2026 12:06 am IST

Rescue operations continue at the site of the debris slip in Wayanad on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) morning. At least three persons were killed and five are reportedly still missing following the incident on Tuesday. | Wayanad SP Devamanohar told reporters that a case of unnatural death has been registered in connection with the debris slip and an investigation has been launched. Rescue operations continue at the site of the debris slip in Wayanad on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) morning. At least three persons were killed and five are reportedly still missing following the incident on Tuesday. | He said that areas downstream of the river are also being searched and the road towards Chooralmala has been cleared.But, there is a lot more mud to be cleared from the incident site, and it can be done only after the search operations are completed, the officer said.The Kerala government, a day ago, had contended that it was a “man-made disaster” as the mud accumulated at the construction site had not been removed despite directions from the district administration and Public Works Department Minister P.K. Basheer.The general manager of the construction company refuted it and claimed that the incident occurred much above the work site.He said that it did not happen on the land given to the company for the construction and the mud accumulated there was not the reason for the disaster.When reporters asked Wayanad District Collector Meghashree D R about the company GM’s contention that they were not at fault, she declined to comment about it.Meanwhile, an official involved in the rescue operations said that while the debris slip occurred above the construction site, the mud accumulated in the area led to the mudslide’s intensity increasing.He also said that the ongoing rains are posing a hurdle in the search and rescue operations.The three people who have been confirmed to have died in the incident are migrant workers – Chandraban, an operator from Madhya Pradesh; Bikash Kumar, a civil foreman from Bihar; and Anmol, a worker from Jharkhand.Seven persons injured in the incident were undergoing treatment at the Meppadi WIMS Hospital as of Tuesday night.Chief Minister V D Satheesan would be visiting the area on Wednesday, according to government sources. Published - July 08, 2026 10:24 am IST

Although disasters continue to strike Kerala, particularly Wayanad, during the monsoon season, the State and Central government agencies appear to have learnt little from past incidents. | The weather conditions in Wayanad on the eve of the latest tragedy were strikingly similar to those preceding the July 2024 disaster.In the latest incident, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a yellow alert for the district on Monday. However, Wayanad received a record 264 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, an amount that falls within the red-alert category.An offshore trough was active on Monday along the west coast, extending from south Gujarat to north Kerala. The trough and reinvigorated westerly winds brought copious rainfall to the Western Ghats, perhaps marking the first major spell over the ghat regions of Wayanad during the ongoing monsoon season. A similar weather situation had developed in 2024 as well, an issue that was later raised in Parliament, with the State accusing the Central agency of failing to provide an accurate forecast.Offshore vortices that formed near the ghat regions of Wayanad, along with a portion of the monsoon winds returning after striking the peaks of the Western Ghats, triggered the extreme rainfall event on July 30, 2024.Speaking to The Hindu, Neetha K. Gopal, Director of the IMD, Thiruvananthapuram, says the prevailing synoptic weather conditions, including the offshore trough, will continue for the next two days and that rainfall activity in the region is expected to decline significantly after July 9 with the weakening of the prevailing system over the Bay of Bengal.Although disasters continue to strike Kerala, particularly Wayanad, during the monsoon season, the State and Central government agencies appear to have learnt little from past incidents. A weather radar sanctioned for Wayanad after the 2024 disaster is yet to become operational, although were also allegations that the site identified for installing the radar was unsuitable, as it falls within a rain-shadow region of the district.According to experts, Wayanad requires a permanent weather observatory in Kalpetta equipped with a radar, although such a radar is primarily useful for issuing nowcasts up to three hours before the onset of intense rainfall. “The IMD is hopeful of conducting a trial run of the radar during the ongoing monsoon season,” says Ms. Gopal.Meanwhile, the latest tragedy has also raised questions about the disaster preparedness of State agencies.Although the State government had directed the contractor company responsible for the tunnel road project to remove the debris and mud allegedly dumped near the project site, it has remained silent on the enforcement measures to be taken after the contractor failed to comply with the order. If the company fails to carry out the assigned work, the question remains whether the government can afford to wait until disaster strikes before initiating follow-up action, say experts. Published - July 07, 2026 08:13 pm IST

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto receives Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport in Jakarta on July 6, 2026. Photo: Narendra Modi Photo Gallery via ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (July 6, 2026) arrived in Indonesia on the first leg of his three-nation tour, aimed at further strengthening India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision and its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.In a special gesture, Mr. Modi was received at the airport by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. In addition, four ministers were also present to receive the Prime Minister, who was accorded a traditional ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour.Visit to Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand will further strengthen India’s Act East Policy: PM“Landed in Jakarta. I’m touched by President Prabowo Subianto’s gesture of welcoming me at the airport,” Mr. Modi said in a social media post.This is PM Modi’s first bilateral visit to Indonesia since the elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018.“In 2018, we elevated our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has benefitted our people,” Mr. Modi said.Mr. Modi said he will hold discussions with President Subianto “aimed at adding even more momentum to this partnership across diverse sectors.”“President Prabowo and I will visit the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta. This will ensure closer cultural linkages between our nations. While in Indonesia, I also look forward to interacting with the Indian community,” he added.The centuries-old temple, located approximately 17 km northeast of Yogyakarta city, is considered Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple.Ahead of his departure from Delhi, Mr. Modi said his visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand will further strengthen India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision as well as “our outlook towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.”MAHASAGAR, or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions, is India’s vision of security and growth for all regions.Mr. Modi’s visit comes after President Prabowo’s State visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in January 2025.“India and Indonesia share strong civilisational and people-to-people ties, and my visit will further deepen all aspects of our multifaceted partnership,” he said.From Indonesia, Mr. Modi will travel to Melbourne at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The final leg of the tour will take him to Auckland at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Published - July 06, 2026 06:20 pm IST