Kerala News Highlights: Kerala reports 199 cases of Covid-19 last day; 4 deaths confirmed

4:34 pm: Man arrested for attempt to murder in Thiruvananthapuram

A 25-year-old man named Naufal has been arrested by the Nedumangad police at his house. He is accused of attempting to kill a man who reported to the police about his alleged involvement in illegal liquor sales.

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4:06 pm: Woman brutally raped in Kochi; police completes collection of evidence

The police has completed collection of evidence in connection with the rape case of 59-year-old woman in Kochi, The accused was brought to the Ernakulam North Railway Station and near the railway track where the crime took place.

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3:25 pm: IMD issues orange alert in 4. districts due to heavy rainfall

The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert in three districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta. . The reason for the activation of the rain is the cyclonic circulation along the Comorin coast. Fishing is prohibited in the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep area today.

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3:00 pm: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan seeks explanation from VC over removal of SFI banners at Calicut University

Kozhikode: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan sought an explanation from the Vice Chancellor in response to the hanging of an SFI (Students Federation of India) banner against the governor at Calicut University. The Raj Bhavan secretary has been instructed to inquire into the matter and seek an explanation from the VC regarding why the banners were allowed to be hung and why they were not promptly removed. The Governor has also directed the immediate removal of the banners in question. 

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2:34 pm: Group attacks petrol pump employees over dispute on petrol quantity

Petrol pump employees were allegedly beaten up in a dispute over quantity of petrol. Pump manager K Riaz and employee KB Bageesh were beaten up in the office. 

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1:55 pm: Thottappally sand mining protestors against CM Pinarayi Vijayan

The protest committee is expressing dissatisfaction with the Chief Minister's characterization of the activities in Thottapalli as development work. The committee contends that the ongoing strike against black sand mining is a valid expression of concern.

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1:30 pm: IMD issues special alert in 2 districts over heavy rain

The weather forecast indicates a potential for light to moderate rain, with the possibility of heavy rain at isolated places in Kerala on December 17 and 18. This weather pattern is attributed to a cyclonic system located in the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the coast of southern Sri Lanka.

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12:54 pm: Strict alert to Karnataka borders due to hike of covid cases in Kerala

The neighboring states have taken precautionary measures due to hike of covid cases in Kerala. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao called an emergency meeting. All district hospitals have been alerted to the spread of COVID after a while.

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12:25 pm:Vandiperiyar case: Appeal letter against the accused to be delivered tomorrow

The Special Public Prosecutor will tomorrow hand over a letter to the Director General of Prosecution to file an appeal against the acquittal of the accused in the case of rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Vandiperiyar. A meeting attended by Idukki SP, district public prosecutors, DySPs and investigating officer analyzed the verdict. 

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11:55 am: CBI enquiry will demand in Vandiperiyar case, says KPCC president K Sudhakaran

KPCC president K Sudhakaran has said that he will demand a CBI probe into the Vandiperiyar case. Sudhakaran was talking to reporters after visiting the house of the murdered girl in Vandiperiyar. Even after the accused pleaded guilty, he was not sentenced. Sudhakaran said that he had decided to go into the case.

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11:38 am: 7-year-old boy's leg not functioning after taking injection

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Guruvayur has initiated an investigation into a complaint concerning a 7-year-old boy whose leg reportedly weakened after receiving an injection for a headache at the Chavakkad taluk hospital. ACP KG Suresh from Guruvayur is leading the investigation.

The child, who had initially sought treatment for a headache at the hospital, later claimed that his left leg became paralyzed after receiving the injection. The investigation team, led by ACP KG Suresh, has visited the Taluk hospital to gather information in connection with the incident. As part of the inquiry, the police have obtained CCTV footage from the time the child and his mother visited the hospital for treatment

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11:03 am: Health Minister Veena George on new covid-19 variant

 Minister Veena George has reassured the public about the Omicron variant, emphasizing that there is no need to worry. The discovery of the virus variant was made with extreme caution, and the minister is encouraging people not to be overly concerned. Minister Veena George consistently highlights that Kerala was among the first to identify the variant.

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10:46 am: Kerala reports 199 COVID-19 cases last day; 4 deaths confirmed

Kerala reported 199 COVID cases on December 16. The active cases in India came to 1523. The health department said that 4 COVID cases were reported in the state

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10:13 am: Four people found unconscious in a house in Palakkad

 Four people were found unconscious in a house near Palakkad Civil Station. Sandhya, Shruti, Sundaran and Sunanda were found unconscious. Palakkad South Police reached the spot and took them to the district hospital.

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9:52 am: Special queue system begins at Sabarimala for women, children

Pathanamthitta: The officials informed that special facilities have been prepared for women and children at Sopanam who are coming to climb Pathinettampadi today. Meanwhile, the crowd continues in Sannidhanam. Around 21,000 people climbed the pathinettampadi till 6 am. The government has introduced new systems as the devotees were not able to visit due to rush. There was heavy rain at Sannidhanam yesterday (Dec 17).
 

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9:25 am: BJP to start protest againt Nava Kerala Sadas if SFI continues protest, says Surendran

BJP State President Surendran has issued a warning, expressing concern about the continuous obstruction by SFI members who have been blocking the way of the Governor, visiting his residence, and displaying money. He stated that if such actions are not halted, similar protests could be directed towards the Chief Minister during the Nava Kerala assembly.

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9:17 am: 'JN.1' COVID-19 Variant: Sample to be sent for genetic sequencing

In response to the discovery of a new variant of COVID-19 in Kerala, it has been determined that the sample will be sent for genetic sequencing. The individual, a resident of Thiruvananthapuram, had their sample collected for testing on November 18. The Ministry of Health has affirmed its close monitoring of the situation.

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8:50 am: Nava Kerala Sadas to be held in Pathanamthitta today

The Nava Kerala Sadas held by CM Pinarayi Vijayan will be held in Pathanamthitta today.  It is reported that the officials of Pathanamthitta Jamaat Committee will not attend the meeting even though they have been notified.

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8:29 am: Woman raped and left on railway track in Kochi; migrant worker arrested

Kochi: A woman was brutally raped and left near the railway track in Kochi on Saturday (Dec 16). A 59-year-old woman was found unconscious near the railway track. The accused migrant worker was arrested by the police.

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8:13 am: Minister AK Saseendran shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College

 Forest Minister AK Saseendran, who was admitted to the hospital due to his health condition, has been shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital

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7:55 am: Subvarient of COVID-19 JN.1 reported in Kerala

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), announced today that a case of the JN.1 subvariant of COVID-19 has been identified in Kerala. This discovery was made as part of the regular surveillance conducted by INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium).

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7:51am:  IMD issues orange alert in Thiruvananthapuram; yellow alert in 6 districts

Due to heavy rainfall, the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert in four districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki. The IMD has warned that there is a possibility of hefty rain in isolated places in Kerala today and tomorrow due to a cyclone near the coast of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been issued in  Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts