Four drown as family picnic turns tragic

Four drown as family picnic turns tragic

Four members of a family including two small children drowned in strong currents in the Bhavani river at Mettupalayam in Coimbatore last week.

Ravichandran, the lone survivor, said that his wife, two daughters and two granddaughters had to gone to the riverbank for a picnic. They entered the river when the water was knee-deep but suddenly the water level rose and washed away Ravichandran’s family even as he tried to save them. He was caught by water plants and managed to swim ashore.

Rescuers could retrieve only three bodies and began searching for 18-year-old Janani at the lower ends of the river.

The following day, three teenagers including two girls drowned while bathing in the Valasaiyur lake in Salem. Reports said one of the victims got caught in a whirlpool and the two others died while trying to rescue her.

Court dissolves Tamil Nadu Wakf board

The Madras High Court has dissolved the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board as it had more nominated members than elected ones and ordered fresh elections within three months.

Acting on petitions filed by Muslim political leaders, the court cancelled the nomination of J M Aaron Rashid and S Amir Ali Jinnah (members of legislative assembly) and Mohamed Jan and S Abdul Rahim( members of parliament) and also nullified the post of Tamizhmagan Hussain, the current chairman. The court also said many members were not qualified for their posts.

The Tamil Nadu Wakf Board was established in 1997, has 13 members, with 23 tribunals that have jurisdiction over 29 districts. Besides settling communal, family and property disputes, the wakf board also runs charity and pension schemes.

Bag with 7.5kg gold stolen from bus

An employee of a leading Chennai-based jewellery store reported that gold weighing 7.5kg was stolen from his bag when he was returning to Chennai from Madurai by bus last week.

Champalal told police that the bag containing the jewels was kept on the shelf above his seat. He found the bag had been tampered with when he reached Chennai.

Police began interrogating the 25 passengers, driver and conductor of the bus. They also interrogated Champalal, as the Madurai supplier claimed to have supplied only 5.5kg of gold.

This is the second such incident in six months on the same route.

Submarine to be converted into museum

INS Vagli, the oldest submarine in the Indian Navy will be docked at Mamallapuram, about 20km from Chennai and converted into a maritime heritage museum with amusement facilities like food courts, play areas, recreational studio and an aquarium.

The submarine, a Foxtrot class vessel Type 641B, was commissioned on August 10, 1974 and has participated in all major military exercises and events.

The Tamil Nadu government has spent Rs100mn to transfer and dock the vessel on 30 acres near the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram.

Body of old woman found in gunny bag

The decomposed body of a 65-year-old woman was found stuffed in a gunny bag after she was reported missing by her son from their home on March 17 in New Washermanpet in Chennai.

The son identified the body based on a bangle worn by his mother.

Police have arrested the woman’s neighbour who had two similar bags at his house and was a close friend.