
Thoothukudi collector reviews arrangements for Tiruchendur temple consecration ceremony
During the meeting the collector stated that the yagasalai puja related to consecration ceremony would begin on July 1 and on the day of consecration ceremony over 10-lakh people are expected to gather for the festival. He directed the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) to ensure uninterrupted supply of at least five lakh litres of drinking water daily throughout the festival period. He emphasised the importance of providing safe drinking water, setting up temporary toilets and parking areas under the Tiruchendur Municipality. He insisted on evicting the stray dogs and cattle from the temple premises and the municipality was also directed to ensure regular garbage clearance throughout the town.
Mr. Elambahavath directed the highway officials to expedite the repair of Tiruchendur-Thoothukudi road and internal roads in the Tiruchendur town. Additionally, drainage connections blockages should be cleared and uninterrupted power supply ensured. A medical team must be stationed within the temple premises with 24x7 ambulance service and emergency treatment facilities.
The police department was instructed to ensure adequate security arrangements to prevent overcrowding and to regulate the movement of devotees for smooth darshan.
The Vaikasi Visakam festival at Tiruchendur is scheduled for June 9. Since this event also draws lakhs of devotees, the District Collector advised the officials to make necessary arrangements to accommodate the visiting devotees during this festival as well.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Hindu
01-07-2025
- The Hindu
Two fishing boats adrift in Sri Lankan waters rescued along with 20 crew members on board
A well-coordinated and timely effort by District Collector K. Elambahavath, officials of Department of Fisheries, Indian Coast Guard, and the Thoothukudi fishermen has ensured the safe return of two mechnaised boats with 20 crew that drifted into the Sri Lankan waters after sudden technical snag. The mechanised boat 'Samson' left Tharuvaikulam Fish Landing Centre, its base, on June 15 for the first multi-day deep-sea stay fishing in Indian Ocean after the 61-day-long annual fishing ban with 11 crew with a lot of hopes of good harvest. However, the 140 hp six-cylinder engine developed a snag dashing the hopes of the crew even as they were fishing at the depth of more than 3,000 feet northeast off Kanniyakumari coast on June 27. After the crew's efforts to rectify the glitch failed, they sought the help of the mechanised boats fishing nearby through their communication devices to tow the boat back to Tharuvaikulam. However, rough sea conditions thwarted their repeated attempts to tow the 93-tonne steel structure. To make things worse, the boat's wireless set too went dead. On getting information, the stranded 10-year-old boat's owner Athishta Kumar of Tharuvaikulam and his brother-in-law A. Aniton sought the help of Thoothukudi mechanised boat fishermen as the engine hauling power of Thoothukudi trawlers was much higher. As the owner of boat 'Anto' agreed for the rescue operation, his boat left Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour with nine crew members on June 28 early morning towards the GPS location marked by the stranded boat. Unfortunately, 'Anto', which was carrying the authorisation letter given by the Fisheries department about the proposed rescue operation, developed a snag in hostile weather conditions and both 'Anto' and 'Samson' started drifting towards Sri Lankan waters. 'When we narrated our plight to Assistant Director of Fisheries Bushra Shabhnam over the phone on Saturday night, she straightaway started the work even though she was in Thiruvananthapuram to receive the Thoothukudi fishermen returning from war-torn Iran. She shared this information with the District Collector over the phone around 9.45 p.m. even as she was returning to Thoothukudi for action through the Indian Coast Guard,' recalls Mr. Aniton. On getting information, Mr. Elambahavath alerted the Indian Coast Guard to rescue the boats drifting towards Sri Lankan waters. And, the ICG commandant kept an ICG boat ready at Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour before dawn for the rescue operation. The Collector wisely alerted the Sri Lankan officials through proper channels about the Thoothukudi boats drifting towards their shores that effectively averted arrest-like incidents by Sri Lankan navy. Meanwhile, Tharuvaikulam fishermen arranged two mechanised boats from Thoothukudi for the rescue operation and Ms. Bushra, who reached Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour late on Monday early morning, made arrangements for giving groceries and 2,000 litres of diesel to each boat even though the fuel station in the fishing harbour was closed on Sunday. Since both the boats did not have satellite phones, Ms. Bushra started searching for this communication device. 'When I was told that a Tharuvaikulam boat with a satellite phone was returning to the shore after fishing around 6 a.m. on Monday, we brought it to be handed over to one of the rescue boats even though they were accompanied by the ICG boat,' Ms. Bushra said. While the ICG boat can sail at the speed of 25 knots, the rescue boats' maximum speed is only 10 knots and hence the ICG boat slowly accompanied the two boats until it reached the International Maritime Boundary Line. After communicating with their Sri Lankan counterparts, the ICG officers allowed the rescue boats to enter the Sri Lankan waters to tow the stranded boats to reach Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour on Monday forenoon. 'We are immensely indebted to the Collector, the Indian Coast Guard, Ms. Bushra and the Thoothukdi fishermen for having safely rescued our livelihood (the boats) with the crew through well-coordinated efforts. All of them had sleepless nights on Saturday and Sunday for our wellbeing,' said Mr. Aniton.


Time of India
08-06-2025
- Time of India
Sanitation worker falls into manhole, dies
Tuticorin: A 40-year-old disabled sanitation worker died after falling into a manhole on Sunday when he attempted to clear a sewage block in an underground drain at Tiruchendur in Tuticorin. Sources said he did not have any safety gear on while carrying out the work, and may have inhaled toxic fumes in the drain. Several contract workers of Tiruchendur municipality were engaged in clearing blocks in the drainage in the morning, ahead of the Vaikasi Visakam festival at the Murugan temple, which attracts thousands of devotees. Police said P Sudalaimani of Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli, a disabled man, was among the workers attending to a complaint of near Tiruchendur Govt Hospital. As he was trying to clear the blockage, he accidentally fell into a manhole and landed inside the drain. Though other workers tried to lift him, they were unable to reach him in time. Fire and rescue services department and police arrived and pulled him out. An unconscious Sudalaimani was taken to the GH, where doctors declared him brought dead. He is suspected to have died after inhaling toxic fumes. The body of the deceased was sent for post-mortem examination. Tiruchendur taluk police registered a case and were investigating further.


New Indian Express
07-06-2025
- New Indian Express
PMK president Anbumani urges Stalin to order probe into ‘wage scam' in drainage board
TIRUNELVELI: PMK president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday urged CM MK Stalin to order an inquiry into the allegation of Rs 90 cr loot committed every year by officials and contractors of Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD ) Board who pay only 40% to 50% wages to workers. The TNIE carried a detailed report about the issue on Friday. In a post on his 'X' handle, Anbumani said it was condemnable that no action has been taken against those responsible for the scam, which has been going on for over 20 years. 'There is no greater crime or sin in the world than embezzling wages meant for contract workers. The Tamil Nadu government must order a fair inquiry into this scam. Those behind it must be identified,' he demanded. The PMK leader said, 'A total of 11,597 workers, including electricians, pumping operators, and maintenance assistants, are employed on a contract basis in the TWAD Board. Their wages are paid to the contractors, who then disburse it to the workers. The accusation is that contractors, who receive a minimum wage of Rs 15,401 or more per worker, pay only Rs 7,500 to Rs 9,800 and embezzle the remaining amount.'