Kerala News Highlights: CPI(M) to field KK Shailaja, C Ravindranath for LS polls

5:14 pm: Lok Sabha Election 2024: List of Kerala CPI-M candidates out; Check

CPI(M) has finalized the candidate for Lok Sabha Election 2024 on Wednesday (Feb 21). However, the official announcement of the names will be declared on February 26. The final list was compiled by keeping some candidates from the probable list while excluding others. The candidates will be officially announced with the approval of Polit Bureau (PB) after the decision of the state leadership. Read more

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4:50 pm: Russian woman drowns in sea in Varkala

 In an unfortunate incident, a foreign tourist was swept away by the waves while bathing in the sea in Varkala on Wednesday (Feb 21) around 11.30 am. The deceased is a Russian national identified as Anzhelika (52) who met a tragic end at Vettakada Beach in Edava, Varkala. Anzhelika reportedly lost her life to strong waves whilst taking a sea bath with a friend who is also Russian. Anzhelika could not be saved, even though local surfers and fishermen were able to save her by pulling her out of the water and rushing her to Varkala Taluk Hospital.

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4:35 pm: Plus Two model exam question paper leaked on WhatsApp in Kozhikode; probe begins

The Higher secondary model exam question papers have been leaked in Kozhikode. Minister for General Education and Labour V Sivankutty has ordered an inquiry into the Higher Secondary Model Examination question paper leak in Kozhikode. The Director of Public Education has been directed to conduct a departmental inquiry. The Director of Public Education has also lodged with the Director General of Police (DGP).

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4:06 pm: CPI(M) to field KK Shailaja, C Ravindranath for LS polls

CPI(M) announced Lok Sabha candidates for Lok Sabha Elections 2024:

Vadakara: KK Shailaja
Chalakkudy: V Raveendran
Ernakulam: K J Shane

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4:00 pm: Youth falls into dam while taking selfie at Peppara Dam

A young man slipped and fell into the dam while taking a selfie at Peppara Dam in Thiruvananthapuram. Sujith(36) was rescued by fire force from Vithura. The incident took place around noon today. 

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3:25 pm: CM Pinarayi Vijayan to address Nava Kerala Sthree Sadas in Kochi tomorrow

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will interact with women working in various fields with the aim of Nava Kerala Sthree Sadas on Thursday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at Nedumbassery CIAL Convention Center in Ernakulam. The Minister of Health, Women and Child Development Veena George will preside over the meeting.

Industry Minister P. Rajeev, Higher Education Minister R.Bindu, Animal Welfare Department Minister J. Chinchu Rani, MLA Anwar Sadat Principal Secretary of Women and Child Development Department Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph, Director of Women and Child Development Department Haritha V Kumar and others will participate. The Nava Kerala Action Plan State Coordinator Dr. T.N Seema will be the moderator of the event.

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2:57 pm: Four arrested for killing, smuggling wild buffalo in Malappuram

Around four people have been arrested in the incident of killing a wild buffalo and smuggling the meat in Malappuram. Muralidharan, Sunir, Shiju, and Balakrishnan were arrested by the forest department last night. The head of the buffalo was found at the spot during the inspection, based on the information. The accused have stated that they hunted wild buffaloes with unlicensed country guns.
 

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2:48 pm: IMD issues yellow alert in 8 districts as temperature rises in the state

The India Meteorological Department has informed that high temperatures will be experienced in more districts in the state in the coming days. A yellow alert has been announced in eight districts today due to an extreme rise in temperature. The IMD stated the temperature is likely to rise to 37 degrees Celsius in Kollam, Kottayam and Palakkad districts and 36 degrees Celsius (two to three degrees above normal) in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur districts today.  

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2:17 pm: Residents in Alappuzha struggle as drinking water kiosks remain non-operational

 Many drinking water kiosks within the municipal limits of Alappuzha districts are currently non-operational. These kiosks, which typically offer affordable drinking water to residents, have been on strike for several weeks due to machine breakdowns. However, there has been a lack of prompt action from authorities to address this urgent issue. As a result, residents are facing difficulties accessing clean and affordable drinking water.

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1:43 pm: Divison bench refuses to interfere single bench order in Maradu temple fireworks

The division bench refused to interfere with the single bench order denying permission to firecrackers at the Maradu Kottaram temple. The High Court directed the petitioners to approach a single bench to clarify the matter if there is any obstacle in the ritual matters. The court asked whether the refusal of permission for fireworks was not based on the report of the police.
 

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12:21 pm: Man dies after building slab collapses in Alappuzha

One person died after the slab of an under-construction building collapsed in Alappuzha. Sharma Chowdhury (22), a native of Royari West Champaran, Bihar, died. Arvind Chaudhary (37), who was working with him, was seriously injured.  

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12:02 pm: Setback for Dileep: HC directs to provide copy of report on memory card leak to actress

The High Court, under the direction of Justice K Babu, has ordered that the investigation report concerning the memory card leak be provided to the actress. The High Court directed the Principal Sessions Judge to furnish a copy of the report to the actress, who had petitioned the court after not receiving the report. Dileep, the eighth accused in the case, opposed this action.
 

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11:48 am: Financial crisis hits Kerala education: SSLC, Plus Two exams in jeopardy due to lack of funds; check details

 The education department has issued an order allowing schools to utilize funds allocated for daily expenses in the event of insufficient funds to conduct SSLC - Plus Two examinations. This move aims to address financial constraints in organizing the SSLC and higher secondary exams. The order specifies that once funds are received from the government, schools will be reimbursed for the expenses incurred. This initiative seeks to ensure the smooth conduct of examinations despite budgetary challenges.

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11:20 am: Family of 2-year-old who found missing in Thiruvananthapuram hold protests at SAT hospital 

The family of a two-year-old girl who was found missing in Petta in Thiruvananthapuram protested in front of SAT Hospital. The relatives, including the parents, demanded to release of the child from the hospital. The police have asked the hospital authorities to keep the child under observation in the hospital for a week.

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11:02 am: Consumer court recognizes resort's negligence, grants Rs 2 crore compensation to bereaved parents

 The consumer court has awarded a record-breaking compensation of Rs 2 crore to a father and mother who tragically lost their two children in an accident at Adventure Resort. This is the highest amount of compensation ever awarded in the state since the inception of the Consumer Protection Act. The verdict emphasized that the failure to provide adequate security at the resort was the cause of the heartbreaking loss suffered by PV Prakashan and Vanaja from Amballur.

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10:25 am: Even after 40 days, Idukki elephant attack victim's family gets only Rs 50,000; check details

Even after 40 days of a wild elephant attack that claimed the life of a tea plantation worker, Parimala, a native of Panniyar in Idukki, the government compensated the family only with Rs 50,000. On the other hand, the family of Paul in Wayanad was handed over Rs 5 lakh. Parimala (44), wife of Mohanan, was killed in an attack by a herd of wild elephants at Panniyar near Santhanpara in Munnar in January. Parimala and another worker, Palaniyamma, were on their way to the plantation when they got trapped in front of the herd. The herd attacked Parimala. She was rushed to a private hospital at Rajakumari and later shifted to Theni Medical College in Tamil Nadu, but her life could not be saved.

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9:45 am: Over 30 Law College students protest, threaten suicide citing management irregularities in Thodupuzha

The protest of students who threatened to commit suicide at Thodupuzha Cooperative Law College ended at midnight on Wednesday (Feb 21) citing irregularities by the management. The strike was called off with the assurance that an impartial committee would look into the students' grievances. The solution was made after a discussion with the sub-collector. The strike started at 4 pm on Tuesday (Feb 20) and lasted for seven hours. The demands of the students included the resignation of the principal, nullifying the marks awarded to only one child undeservedly and withdrawing the expulsion of the students who protested for this demand and look into the ragging complaints. The management assured that they would do everything except the resignation of the principal.

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9:22 am:  Supplyco issues gag order, warns media against filming outlets

Sriram Venkitaraman, chairman and managing director of Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) has issued a circular imposing restriction on media from filming scenes at Supplyco outlets. Additionally, employees are prohibited from engaging with the media without authorization. Venkataraman warned of disciplinary action against officials if the footage is recorded without prior permission. These measures suggest a tightened control of media access and communication protocols within Supplyco.

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8:48 am: Final decision regarding CPM candidate for Lok Sabha Elections to be held today

The final decision regarding the CPM candidates for the Lok Sabha elections will be taken today. The state committee, which will meet in the afternoon, will also discuss the candidate proposals prepared by the district secretariat. 

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8:26 am: Man who kills wife by setting ablaze died in Cherthala

 A man who killed his wife by setting her on fire died in Cherthala last day. Shyam G. Chandran was accused of killing his wife by pouring petrol and setting her on fire. Shyam also suffered 70 percent burns during the incident and was being treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital. Both of his kidneys had stopped working last afternoon and he later died in the night.

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8:13 am: Mother, son died after being hit by a train in Palakkad

A mother and son died after being hit by a train in Palakkad. The mother and younger brother of Babu, who got stuck in the Kurumbachi mountain and were later rescued by the rescue mission, died after being hit by a train. Rasheeda (46) and her son Shaji (23), a native of Malampuzha, died. The incident happened around 11 pm last night. The police have concluded that their death was a suicide.