CHENNAI: Sparking environmental and health concerns, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has confirmed high levels of toxic heavy metals in the bottom ash of the Greater Chennai Corporations 10-tonne-per-day municipal waste incinerator at Manali, revealing contamination levels as high as 360 times the permissible limit. In its report to the southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT), the TNPCB said the incinerators bottom ash contained heavy metals in concentrations exceeding the

CHENNAI: A man driving a car, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, created a series of accidents, killing one person and injuring three others. The suspect has been identified as Udhayakumar of Thiruvanmiyur who runs a biryani shop. Explaining the sequence of the accidents, the police told TNIE that it was at Muttukadu that Udhayakumar first met with an accident, hitting a two-wheeler, causing minor injuriews to the rider. He then proceeded to Nainarkuppam and fatally hit a cyclist Monish a

CHENNAI: Nearly seven months after the Chennai corporation carried out a third-party survey to identify homeless individuals, there has been no follow up action, a rapid assessment on the access to shelters and housing by the Information & Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities, said ahead of World Homeless Day on Friday. The report follows a survey of 212 individuals and 256 families living in streets in 18 locations in the city. Of them, 86% of those surveyed pointed out that they

CHENNAI: DG Vaishnav College celebrated International Teachers Day on Wednesday under the theme Acharya Devo Bhava. The event recognised the invaluable contribution of teachers in nurturing students potential and driving institutional growth. Former Anna University V-C E Balagurusamy, and commissioner (Land Reforms) S Vijayakumar were the chief guests at the event. Delivering the keynote address, Balagurusamy said teaching is not just about completing the curriculum but about building character,

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu aims to become the quality capital of the world, Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said on Wednesday, signalling a strategic push to strengthen ties with European partners in advanced manufacturing and clean technologies. Addressing the Tamil Nadu-EFTA Business Summit in Chennai, Rajaa said while the state has traditionally looked to Swiss precision engineering as a benchmark, it now intends to build its own quality leadership through targeted collaborations. He highlighted shipb

Laughter is not a joking matter anymore. Comedy is certainly serious business! What tickles your funny bone may infuriate the sensitive muscles of someone else in the real or cyber world. You could be served a legal notice, trolls would make you a superstar for all the wrong reasons, and national TV hosts would be heatedly debating your hilarious statement with an urgently assembled panel of self-proclaimed experts from fields that dont even have broken bridges to the topic discussed. When in ma

Earlier this year, news of renowned fashion brands monetising on Indian handmade products made headlines. Among them was the humble wire koodai (basket), which has been a household craft for decades, albeit an overlooked one. Often seen hung at the doorsteps of rural homes, they are now stepping into the spotlight as a fashionable, functional, and fiercely sustainable accessory. This fusion of tradition and luxury not only shines a light on the artisanal skill behind each piece but also sparks a

Borders are not just lines on a map. They are habits of thought, ways of deciding who matters and who does not, of determining where compassion ends and suspicion begins. In Birds of Border, director KP Rajeev, who runs the Chennai-based theatre group Ekatha, turns this idea inside out, treating the border not as a question of statecraft but as a quiet corrosion of intimacy. Set between Kashmir and Kerala, the play follows ordinary people who live within invisible enclosures of love, faith, and

On the day he was to be crowned, young Prince Elvis watched his kingdom of Fairyland fall into chaos for from the depths of the dungeons, the demon king had broken free. Armed with nothing but courage, a curious mind, and a tiny dragon with a fiery heart, he must journey beyond everything he knows, into lands born of a childs dreams and nightmares. Elviss path twists through a world where seven-headed dragons roar across crimson skies, a magician commands deserts to devour the living, a colossa

CHENNAI: A year after inauguration, the Greater Chennai Corporations first pet crematorium, located at Kannammapet in T Nagar, is set to open for public use this week. A veterinary official of the corporation told TNIE that the facility will initially be available free of cost. Although construction was completed and the crematorium inaugurated by the end of 2024, it remained non-operational for nearly a year due to administrative delays, reportedly over decisions regarding operational expenses,

CHENNAI: The Chennai police on Monday arrested 18 people on charges of organising a drugs party at a star hotel in Kilpauk. Acting on a tip-off, officers from the Narcotics Intelligence Unit raided specific rooms in the hotel and found the group consuming narcotic substances. Police seized 4.3g of ganja, three cars, two two-wheelers, and 18 mobile phones from the spot. According to police sources, preliminary inquiries revealed that the group had initially gathered at a private pub on Sunday, wh

In a quiet corner of a tournament hall in Kazhakstan, a 10-year-old from Tamil Nadu sat diligently across the chessboard. Her first game at the World Cadet Chess Championship 2025 ended in a loss. For a moment, her heart sank. Then, Sharvaanica AS remembered her vow to Lord Muruga. She straightened her pieces, whispered a prayer, and smiled. What followed was a stunning climb, nine consecutive victories. In the final round, she faced a tough loss against Americas Zhou Abigail, but her work was a

What began in 1948 as a humble sweet shop has now unwrapped a new chapter of indulgence just in time for the festive season. With Deepavali around the corner, Sri Krishna Sweets has gifted Chennai its largest-ever outlet on East Coast Road, blending nostalgia with newness. The space pairs its signature sweets and savouries with a full-fledged restaurant experience, offering customers not just a taste of tradition, but a warm, contemporary space to celebrate sweetness in all its forms. We realis

It was a not-so-hot, windy Tuesday morning. Inhaling the petrichor, I drive on traffic-free roads to Abhiramapuram. The familiar whir of the grinder, the comforting aroma of freshly roasted beans, and the quiet conversations in the corner guided me into Starbucks Indias new experiential store here. This space promises to be more than a coffee stop. It is a store where the citys vibrant culture meets the brands global coffee craftsmanship. Capturing a fragment of our culinary imagination, a glass

The waves of nostalgia and aroma travel together wherever home chef and culinary enthusiast Firozi Karanjia takes her Parsi food. Our community may be small but our food is very large in volume, shares the chef whose next stop is The Raintree on St Marys Road. Along with Chef Rashna Morena, Firozi has curated Jashn-e-Bawa, a food festival that celebrates the communitys culinary heritage through an array of authentic dishes that reflect tradition, nostalgia, and a sense of togetherness. The idea

Imagine a concert hall, hushed and waiting. A singer, fully absorbed in a raga, starts a Neraval . This is where he takes one line from a song and builds something new around it. Its a skill that takes decades to master. For Palghat Dr R Ramprasad, this difficult art is one of the components of Manodharmam which his grandfather, the great mridangam artist Palghat Mani Iyer, considered the true test of a musician. Yet, Ramprasads world is not only about tradition. It is also shaped by the modern

CHENNAI: In a move to ensure smooth pedestrian movement across Chennais footpaths, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to all zonal officers for the eviction of encroachments across 15 zones in the city. According to the circular issued by the chief engineer (General), assistant engineers in each division have been instructed to identify and enumerate all footpath encroachments - including permanent structures and temporary vendors - and report t

CHENNAI: Delhi MSW Solutions Limited, which was contracted for carrying out solid waste management in Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones of the city corporation, has warned that they would have to replace the sanitary workers if they continue to keep away from work. The firm said of the 821 workers, 421 are working at present and 400 have not reported despite receiving appointment letters. The submission was made before a division bench of justices MS Ramesh and R Sakthivel when the appeal fi

CHENNAI: The Avadi city police are on the search for a 14-year-old boy who allegedly made a hoax bomb threat call to the city police control room after borrowing a mobile phone from a shopkeeper. Police said the incident occurred last week at a mobile accessories shop in Kannigapuram, near Avadi. The boy had allegedly borrowed mobile phone of the shopkeeper under the pretext of calling his father, but instead he contacted the Avadi police, saying bombs had been planted in five schools. He discon

CHENNAI: The city police have arrested a small-time actor, a DMK functionary and three others on Sunday for allegedly forcing a schoolgirl into prostitution. The arrests follow a probe into a case that came to light in August after the Anti-Vice Squad rescued a Class 9 student from a lodge in Koyambedu. The police identified those arrested as Bharathi Khanna, a small-time film director and comedian; Ramesh, a DMK functionary; Poongodi, a dancer; her niece Aishwarya; and Mahendhiran, an employee

When it comes to chess in India, the legacy of the game in Chennai is built on the history of the clubs, and its continued guidance to budding talents, who go on to become world champions or Grandmasters. They conduct Open Chess tournaments for enthusiasts to play against players of all age groups. One such academy Mount Chess Academy which is run by V Ravichandran and Yamuna Ravichandran, has continuously provided personalised coaching, in addition to conducting tournaments. It hosted the MS

In the Skanda Purana is a tale of a dice game between Siva and Parvati. Siva, together with Vishnu, defeats Parvati. Angered, she walks away to Kashi, opens a kitchen and feeds the neighbourhood. A dismissive Siva, meanwhile, called everything including the game and Parvati a maya (illusion), leaving the world without rain or grain. He was stripped of his power, and the nature understood that pure consciousness was powerless without her. Realising his mistake and love for his wife, he begs her

After years and years of scrolling on the internet and playing videogames, I think Megabonk has finally broken me. My brains reward receptors are cooked, and I am probably in need of some medical examination. I think that the only thing that gets me up and about these days is the idea of blasting projectiles at skeletons and oversized monsters. The most cruel part of all of this is that Megabonk is stupidly simple. 130 MB. Costs Rs 480. Runs on a potato computer. And I played this game in exchan

Among the ancient Siva temples around Thiruvallur is the Chidambareshwarar temple in a small village called Thottikalai. It is said that God Brahma worshipped Siva here and got the amrita kalasam (pot of nectar). Hence, Siva here is also worshipped as Kalasa Thyagar. The main entrance to the temple is on the east, but is without a gopuram . On the lintel above the door leading to the principal shrine is a stone panel profusely carved. In the centre is Nataraja performing the Urdhva Tandava (leg

Pink. For years, I despised it. Yet as a child, I loved the pink Barbies that were handed down to me. I even rooted for the Pink Ranger in Power Rangers SPD. These memories serve as reminders that the colour once belonged to me. But somewhere along the way, it didnt. Now, in my mid-twenties, things seem to have shifted. I bought a hot pink gadget after ignoring the saleswoman who insisted it looked awful. I find myself drawn to pink clothes, nail paint, and so much more, almost subconsciously. A

CHENNAI: The opening of Kilambakkam railway station and pedestrian skywalk linking it to Kilambakkam Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) has been postponed to January next year, forcing commuters to face hardship during the festive season. Commuters heading to the bus terminus, located nearly 25 km from Chennai, are spending between Rs 300 and Rs 500 on auto rickshaws and cabs to board mofussil and SETC buses. Additionally, with no foot overbridge in place, hundreds of commuters continue to

As we enter October and Navratri is behind us, the festival of Deepavali begins to take on a larger-than-life significance. Shopping, planning, parties, and the ethics and safety of bursting crackers become an integral part of the festival. Deepavali is not just a festival of lights and pujas, but also a time of play. On this day, people used to indulge in games and gambling as part of the celebration a custom that seems to become more widely spread as the years go by. Many of our festivals hav

Independent bungalows in the city once followed a pattern photo frames of a smiling family hung on the walls, rooms custom designed, large kitchens for relatives to gather to cook. Each brick held a story of the family that lived in the house. Slowly, black marks lingered around photo frames, dust settled into the corners of wooden beams, and vessels that once clattered, turned silent. Moments on the verandahs became memories. Soon, most of them were demolished, making way for apartments or com

Music is personal, intimate. Could you elaborate on your connection to it, and how it has shaped your journey? Who were your heroes growing up? Ever since I was little I cant even remember exactly when, maybe five or six I was drawn to sounds. Music was always around me: rock, hip-hop, indie. But it was only around 10 or 12 that I began writing and rapping. I didnt have much then, didnt quite fit in, and music became that outlet. It was where I could say things I couldnt otherwise say. That sh

CHENNAI: A 37-year-old contract worker engaged in sewer network improvement works for the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) died after inhaling toxic gas inside a manhole at Tirupati Nagar 1st Main Road, Kolathur, on Saturday. Another worker and the site supervisor suffered injuries while attempting to rescue him and have been admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. The deceased, K Kuppan (37) of Kallakurichi, is survived by two young sons. The injured w

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the police to file reply to a petition moved by expelled AIADMK leader Va Pugazhendi seeking a direction to police to reinvestigate the case registered over a fatal accident involving former deputy Speaker of TN Assembly Pollachi Jayaramans son J Praveen. Justice N Senthilkumar, while hearing the petition on Friday, asked the police to file the reply in four weeks and accordingly, adjourned the case. Advocate R Thirumoorthy appeared for the petitioner.

CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R Priya conducted an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in the Tondiarpet zone on Saturday. She directed the officials to expedite the construction of a new flyover at Ganeshapuram subway, which is being built at a cost of Rs 226.55 crore. The flyover, designed as a four-lane, two-way facility, spans 678 metres in length and 15.2 metres in width. A special 58-metre bowstring bridge is under construction across the railway tracks. Priya also r

CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Mayor R Priya launched an integrated digital platform, including a website and a mobile application, for the identification and end-to-end management of community and pet dog records, at Ripon Building on Friday. Though designed for state-wide implementation, the initiative has been initially launched in Chennai corporation through an improvised pet animal licence portal on the civic bodys website. When expanded to other regions in the state, a separate

CHENNAI: The caretaker of a motor room was arrested on Wednesday and remanded in custody for allegedly murdering a man following a quarrel over the theft of a cutting machine. The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Daskumar. He was found dead on September 26 near the motor room near the flyover at Vyasarpadi. Sources said the suspect, 53-year-old Sankar, the caretaker of the motor room, repeatedly assaulted Daskumar for allegedly stealing his cutting machine and selling it for Rs 2,000.

CHENNAI: A TVK worker was arrested on Friday for allegedly issuing death threats to a YouTuber and abusing Chief Minister MK Stalin in a live video at Koyambedu on Wednesday. According to the police, the suspect, 29-year-old Gokul, a softyware developer, from Alwar Thirunagar, threatened a YouTuber while he was recording public reactions to a newly released film outside a movie theater in Koyambedu. While the YouTuber was recording a video, Gokul interrupted the live filming, allegedly verbally

CHENNAI: The corporation, along with Chennai Enviro Solutions Private Limited, has cleared around 40 tonnes of garbage dumped at the abandoned segregation site near the closed 10-tonne incineration plant in Chinna Mathur in Manali. The clean-up follows an article titled Mountain of waste at unused site irks Manali locals published in TNIE on September 15, highlighting how the workers of Chennai Enviro Solutions Private Limited continued dumping garbage at the site despite it being locked, adding

CHENNAI: Two youth from KK Nagar were arrested on Thursday after they allegedly performed bike stunts on public roads, filmed reels, and uploaded them on Instagram with derogatory captions. The police seized one two-wheeler and two mobile phones from the duo, who were later produced before a court. The KK Nagar police said on March 30 last year when Babijos, an auto driver residing in MGR Nagar, confronted two youth for performing wheelies on PT Rajan Road, they abused and threatened him before

CHENNAI: An FIR has been filed against five persons including a groom, his family members, and the parents of a 16-year-old girl after the minor was married off to a 26-year-old man at a church in Besant Nagar on September 24. Police said the incident occurred on September 24, when the minor from Ennore was married to 26-year-old Vignesh Kumar of Pulianthope despite her opposition. Officials said the girl, later approached the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) along with friends and filed a complain

Chennai Kalai Theruvizhas Porombokkiyal is about making new conversations and gaining knowledge that one can probably find inside the walls of classrooms. The learning Community at Quest geared up on Sunday, September 28, with its spirits high rare artefacts and tools from the rural pockets of Tamil Nadu arrayed near the entrance, photographs paraded with pride on the walls, with caption My happy place, the stairs and chairs filled with curious audience. Porombokkiyal 2025 consisted of four con

Coffee in India has evolved beyond a mere drink; it has become a sentiment, a ritual that makes you pause in solitude or reconnect with friends during a busy day. The first recorded mention of coffee in India dates back to the legend of the Sufi saint Baba Buda. It is said that while on pilgrimage to Mecca, he tasted coffee in Yemen and smuggled seven raw beans to India in the 17th century. Back home, he planted them in the hills of Chikkamagalur. Since then, coffee cultivation spread across the

CHENNAI: Governor RN Ravi, who has been claiming that the crime against SCs were rising and that they face persistent hardships, on Thursday charged that TN has the worst record as far as social discrimination against Dalits is concerned. The governor made these remarks while speaking at the Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations here. In our society, there were a lot of distortions, and many sisters and brothers were treated as untouchables. They were not allowed to share public space. And we moved forwa

CHENNAI: A couple was killed and six others sustained injures after the car they were travelling overturned following a tyre burst on the Maduravoyal Bypass at Pulikoradu near Tambaram on Thursday morning. The deceased have been identified as Muniyandi (79) and his wife Ganapathi Ammal (68), residents of Korukkupet and natives of Aruppukottai. The police said the couple along with six of their family members from Redhills, Manali and Korukkupet, were on their way to a temple in Aruppukottai when

CHENNAI: The Porur police on Thursday arrested 44 RSS volunteers for conducting a shakha at the Iyyapanthangal Government Higher Secondary School, as part of its centenary celebrations, allegedly without prior nod. They were booked for trespass and unlawful assembly. All 44 were later released on station bail. According to police, the volunteers had gathered at the school to hoist a flag and perform yoga. Acting on a complaint from the school principal, the police registered a case against organ

CHENNAI: Porur police on Thursday morning detained 46 volunteers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Iyyapanthangal for allegedly conducting a shakha on a government school campus without permission. Police sources said the group had assembled at the Iyyapanthangal Government Higher Secondary School as part of the centenary celebrations of the RSS, where they hoisted a flag and performed yoga. However, the organisers had not sought prior approval from the school authorities. Following a

CHENNAI: Logistics firm Wintrack Inc announced on Wednesday that it has ceased its import-export operations in India citing harassment and corruption by Chennai Customs. The firm imports massagers and sex toys from China to India. In response to the allegation by the firm, Chennai Customs on their X handle denied the allegations and stated that the cargo was detained due to misdeclaration and lack of sufficient documentation. Wintrack Inc founder Prawin Ganeshan took to his X handle on Wednesday

CHENNAI: The Anna Nagar all-woman police on Monday arrested a 28-year-old man who allegedly posed as a bridegroom on a matrimonial website and duped several women of cash and jewellery. Police identified the accused as Roshan alias Surya of Virudhunagar district. He is said to have lured women by promising marriage, gained their trust and obtained money and valuables from them. Police action came after a 24-year-old nurse from Choolaimedu lodged a complaint, stating that Surya befriended her thr

CHENNAI: The public works department (PWD) has drawn up a preliminary estimate of Rs 2,388 crore to restore the Buckingham Canal, stretching 167km from Pazhaverkadu in Tiruvallur district to Marakkanam in Villupuram. The proposal includes desilting and dredging of the canal to a depth of 1.50m to 3m, for the length of 167km and an average width of 40m. Officials also said the government has requested an additional Rs 20 crore from the central government to fund a detailed project report (DPR) fo

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday inaugurated the citys first steel flyover at Thiyagaraya Nagar, the J Anbazhagan flyover, named after late MLA J Anbazhagan, who was elected from the T Nagar constituency in the 2001 Assembly election. The Rs 164.92-crore flyover, constructed using 3,800 MT of steel by the Greater Chennai Corporation, connects South Usman Road to CIT Nagar Main Road in T Nagar. It is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, especially at the busy junctions

Few beverages have sparked as much debate and admiration as coffee. For centuries, it has been celebrated not only for its distinctive aroma and taste but also for its stimulating and medicinal effects. Once viewed with suspicion and even branded as a harmful intoxicant, coffee today enjoys a very different reputation. With the rise of modern scientific research, it is increasingly recognised as a complex, bioactive-rich beverage that can support human health when consumed in moderation. On this

CHENNAI: A financially distressed Hindi film actor trafficking drugs from Cambodia at the behest of a Delhi-based Nigerian gang was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at the Chennai airport on Monday after he was found carrying four kg of the narcotic methaqualone worth Rs 40 crore, sources said. According to sources, the accused was identified as Vishal Brahma (32), a resident of Kokrajhar in Assam. He has acted in the 2019 Karan Johar production Student of The Year 2 . S