Kerala News HIGHLIGHTS: Court sentences 68-year-old man to 18 years RI for sexually assaulting 9-year-old girl

4.30 PM: Kerala: Temperature soars in state; Authorities issue heatwave warnings, precautions

Ernakulam District Medical Officer has informed that as the temperature is higher than normal in the district, care should be taken to avoid health problems including sunstroke. If the ambient temperature rises beyond a certain limit, the human body's thermal regulation systems will malfunction. Due to this, the heat generated in the body is obstructed and this can impair many vital functions of the body. The district medical officer explained that sunburn is one such condition.

Kerala: Temperature soars in state; Authorities issue heatwave warnings, precautions

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4.00 PM: 'Need security...' Governor appointed 7 Senate members move HC

Seven members nominated by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan to the Kerala University Senate filed a petition in the High Court demanding police security. The petitioners said that there are threats from CPM, SFI and DYF workers and they need police security to carry out their duties. Senate members Adv. KV Manju, PS Gopakumar and others approached the High Court.

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3.25 PM: First phase of widening runway strip completed at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in record time

The first phase of widening the runway strip at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has been completed. The width of the strip on both sides of the runway has been increased from 75 meters to 110 meters. The widening is part of aviation safety measures to make the aircraft safer in case of overshoot from the runway during landing and take-off.

Kerala: First phase of widening runway strip completed at Thiruvananthapuram Airport in record time

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2.45 PM: Fire breaks out in pantry car of Netravati Express in Aluva

A fire broke out under the pantry car of the Netravati Express train. The train caught fire when it reached Aluva station while traveling from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram. The railway police and train pantry staff quickly extinguished the fire using fire extinguishers. The preliminary conclusion is that the brake jam of the train is the cause of the fire in the wheel area. The pantry car is located in the center of the train. Following the incident, the railway authorities conducted inspections. The train left after waiting for half an hour. 

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2.00 PM: Does the BJP have a backup plan in case Rahul Gandhi runs in Wayanad?

BJP State president K Surendran said that the BJP candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala will be announced very soon. If Rahul Gandhi contests in Wayanad, he will take back the Wayanad seat with the NDA's ally BDJS ticket. 

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1.30 PM: Court sentences 68-year-old man to 18 years RI for sexually assaulting 9-year-old girl

The court sentenced a 68-year-old man to 18 years rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl. The Pattambi POCSO fast-track court convicted Krishnan, a native of Manissery, Palakkad. The court sentenced the accused to 18 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 2 lakh rupees in various sections. The incident related to the case took place in January 2023

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1.00 PM: Narrow escape for 5-year-old girl who fell onto railway track in Varkala

The locomotive pilot's fast thinking allowed a five-year-old who had fallen onto the train track during disembarkation to miraculously escape. On Monday about 8:30 p.m., something happened at the Varkala railway station. Falling off the Kozhikode-Thrivananthapuram Jana Shatabdi express, the girl was hurt. The train had begun to move slowly in the middle of the chaos. However, because the accident occurred at the coach directly behind the engine, the locomotive pilot saw it immediately and abruptly halted the train, protecting the girl's life.

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12.30 PM: 18 pigs culled in Alappuzha over African Swine Fever

In Thanneermukkam village panchayat, pigs in the area where African swine fever was confirmed were killed and buried. A special team electrocuted 18 pigs in the rearing center in ward number five and scientifically buried them. Officials informed that the process was completed in three hours. African swine fever was confirmed here last Thursday. Two pigs were infected and died. Following this, a high-level team visited the site and instructed to take further action.

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11.45 AM: UDF stages walkout from Assembly over govt's neglect towards farmers

On Wednesday, the UDF conducted a walkout from the Assembly to express disapproval of the Left government's 'careless' handling of the state's farming situation. After Speaker A N Shamseer dismissed the UDF MLAs' request for an adjournment motion to address the condition of Kerala farmers, the opposition withdrew.

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11.10 AM: Under-construction house collapses in Kozhikode; two killed

At Valayam near Nadapuram on Wednesday, a section of a house that was still under construction collapsed, tragically killing two workers. The two workers were crushed to death when a concrete slab fell. Navajith and Vishnu, residents of Kuttikkadu, are the deceased.

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10.30 AM: KSRTC bus collides with private bus in Kozhikode; 22 injured

22 people were injured in an accident between a KSRTC bus and a private bus in Koduvally, Kozhikode. The accident happened around 7:30 am today. Five policemen are among the injured. The injured were admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. One is in critical condition. 

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9.50 AM: Five-year-old girl dies after continuous vomiting in Vandiperiyar

A five-year-old girl, identified as Arya, died allegedly after continuous vomiting in Vandiperiyar. According to reports, the girl ate an ice cream with her grandfather at Gavi and subsequently started vomiting.

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9.40 AM: Kerala: Wayanad farmer's cow brutally killed; Police await autopsy report

A dead cow was found the previous day near Wayanad, tied up for grazing in a field. Saneesh, a young farmer from Talur, noticed his cow dead. According to Ambalavayal police, they are looking into the incident's cause.

Kerala: Wayanad farmer's cow brutally killed; Police await autopsy report

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9.10 AM: Patient found hanging in Neyyattinkara Ayurveda Hospital

A patient was found hanging dead in Neyyatinkara Ayurveda Hospital. Ajikumar (45), a native of Azhakikonam, Udiyankulangara, died by hanging. The incident happened at 7 am today. He was found hanging from a tree on the hospital premises. The police reached the spot and started the inquest proceedings. The body will be shifted to the hospital for post-mortem. Later it will be released to the family.

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8.40 AM: Tiger caught from Kannur dies

The tiger that was caught by tranquilizer shots in Kotiyur of Kannur died on the way to the zoo. The carcass of the tiger was shifted to Pookode Veterinary Medical College. The tiger was captured yesterday from Kottiur Panniyamala. The tiger was found trapped in a wire fence.

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8.30 AM: Shan Murder case: Court accepts plea to cancel bail of accused

The Alappuzha Additional Sessions Court accepted the prosecution's plea to cancel the bail of the accused in the SDPI state secretary Shan murder case. KS Shan, who was the state secretary of SDPI, was killed on the night of 18 December 2021. The accused in the case are 11 people who are RSS-BJP workers. 

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8.25 AM: Thrippunithura explosion case: 15 houses completely damaged

Over 15 houses were completely damaged in the Thrippunithura explosion and they have approached the court seeking compensation.  It is estimated that 15 houses were destroyed and more than 150 houses were partially destroyed in the blast. The locals decided to approach the court after the illegal storage of ammunition was seized.