Latest news with #Vinod
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala records 66 electrocution deaths in four months amid safety failures
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has reported a worrying spike in electrical accident deaths, with 66 people losing their lives between April 1 and July 20 this year. Among them, eight deaths were caused by snapped power lines alone. This number -- in just four months -- matches the total from the previous financial year and far exceeds earlier figures. In 2022-23, there were 12 such deaths in the entire year, and eight in 2023-24. Malappuram has reported the highest number of snapped wire deaths this year, with three cases. Kozhikode reported two while Ernakulam, Kollam, and Thrissur reported one each. G Vinod, chief electrical inspector with the state electrical inspectorate, has pointed to the absence of spacers as a major reason for snapped conductors. 'These spacers are designed to keep wires apart and prevent them from falling to the ground. Their absence has made the lines more vulnerable, especially during rain and wind,' Vinod told TNIE. Other major causes of death include accidental contact with live wires, negligence in following safety protocols, faulty appliances, unauthorised electrical work, temporary wiring, and overhead line crossings. 'Another persistent danger is the lack of Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs) or Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCBs) in many households. These devices can prevent electrocution by detecting current leakage and automatically cutting off power. Although made mandatory in 2023, many older homes still lack them,' the officer pointed out. Even after July 20, the fatalities have continued. Over the past two days, four more people died in separate incidents across the state. In Kasaragod, an elderly dairy farmer was electrocuted by a fallen power line in his field.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
VDCA team wins ACA U-16 North Zone inter district tournament
The cricket team of Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA) team has won the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) North Zone Under-16 Inter District Tournament 2025-26, held at the Steel Plant Ukku Stadium. The Vizag team played three test matches against East Godavari, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts, winning two matches and finishing at the top of the table with 16 points. The team was lead by Captain Vinod, with team coach P. Nagaraju guiding the players throughout the tournament.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Opposition up in arms over alleged discrepancies in draft electoral rolls
The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are up in arms over the alleged discrepancies in the draft electoral rolls for the Kochi Corporation and the larger Ernakulam district published by the State Election Commission. This, they alleged, was a concerted effort in connivance with officials to set the ground in favour of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. The UDF's Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod has petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner with copies to the District Collector and the Kochi Corporation secretary. He pointed out that hundreds of voters in many delimited wards had been erroneously included in the neighbouring wards and even in entirely different Assembly constituencies. In one such instance, 600-odd voters from 200-odd households in the Perumanoor division in the Ernakulam Assembly constituency were found included in the Panampilly Nagar division in the Thrikkakara Assembly constituency, Mr. Vinod said. 'The voters concerned are required to submit applications in Form 7 to resolve this mistake. It was practically difficult for 10,000-odd voters in the Ernakulam constituency alone to submit applications and then turn up for hearing in the short period allowed for the purpose. This amounted to violation of a citizen's right to cast vote,' he said. Voters have been given time till August 7 to apply to correct mistakes in the draft electoral rolls. This will be followed by hearings of petitioners, and the final list will be published by August 31. M.G. Aristotle, UDF parliamentary party leader in the Corporation, alleged that in the voter's list for the civic body, prepared based on building numbers, over 500 voters were listed under buildings numbered '0'. He said this undermined the very sanctity of the list and questioned how a building could be assigned the number '0' and how such buildings could be identified. 'There have also been instances where persons who were not members of the households in the relevant building numbers were shown as voters of those buildings. For instance, in my building number where only my mother and I reside, a stranger has been shown as a voter,' he said. P.S. Shaiju, chairperson of the BJP city district committee, alleged that in divisions and wards where the BJP had a good chance of victory, the party's voters had been handpicked and deliberately shifted to the list of other wards and divisions to sabotage the party's prospects. 'This has been done deliberately with the connivance of the officers. We have petitioned the Collector, who is also the District Election Officer, and unless a favourable decision is forthcoming by Monday (July 28, 2025), we will move the court,' he said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Collector orders demolition of 30 school buildings in Malappuram
District Collector V.R. Vinod has ordered the demolition of 30 school buildings, which are in precarious condition. The demolition has been ordered under the Disaster Management Act on the basis of a report by the Deputy Director of Education (DDE). Mr. Vinod told a District Development Committee (DDC) meeting here on Saturday (July 26) that he would hold discussions with the DDE and Public Works department officials soon. The buildings have to be demolished within a month after completing the evaluation and tender processes. MLAs P. Ubaidullah, T.V. Ibrahim, Kurukkoli Moideen, P. Abdul Hameed, Abid Husain Thangal, Additional District Magistrate N.M. Meharali, District Planning Officer P.D. Joseph, and representatives of MPs attended the meeting. Mr. Ibrahim presented a resolution against the alleged diversion of the Calicut International Airport's corporate environmental responsibility (CER) funds for purposes other than the mitigation of local environmental issues. A good chunk of the airport's CER funds were diverted to a senior citizen model village in Dharmadom, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's constituency, he alleged. Mr. Ubaidullah seconded the resolution. The Collector assured that he would take up the matter with the Airports Authority of India. District Medical Officer R. Renuka said that infectious diseases, including dengue, were on the rise in the district. However, bolstered preventive measures could check the death rate, she said. Mr. Vinod said that caterers would be advised to discontinue serving iced welcome drinks at events to help prevent the spread of jaundice. Mr. Hameed said that the district should have healthcare facilities proportionate to its population. He pointed out that owing to lack of adequate facilities at the Government Medical College Hospital, Manjeri, patients were being referred to the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. The KSEB will hold a meeting on July 29 as part of its drive to reduce power-related accidents in the district. KSEB officials will also conduct inspections to ensure that safety measures are in place, particularly on school premises.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BRS leader laments missed opportunities for more assembly seats in TG, AP
Hyderabad: BRS senior leader B Vinod Kumar today asserted that had the Indian Government amended Section 26 of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014, by replacing the phrase 'Subject to' with 'Not Withstanding,' the number of seats in both the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State Legislative Assemblies would have increased significantly. Vinod Kumar revealed that the BRS Party had repeatedly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 2014 and 2019 to enact this crucial amendment. However, he noted, the Government of India took no steps to amend Section 26 of the Act. 'I, myself, proposed a Private Member's Bill in the Lok Sabha in 2015 to amend it,' Vinod added. His comments follow the Supreme Court's decision today to dismiss a petition concerning delimitation, stating that such a process would only commence after the census conducted post-2026. 'Therefore, I believe that if the Government of India had amended Section 26 of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, the seats would have increased long ago,' Vinod stated. He concluded with optimism, 'But now 2026 is not far away. Delimitation will take place soon.'
