Coimbatore l Monday l June 24, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION T20 World Cup: afghanistan stun 2021 champs australia Defending a par total of 148, bowlers deliver a clinical performance as the Rashid Khan-led side beat Oz by 21 runs... Naib conjures magic in historic victory Who needs to do what to qualify? Afghanistan came close in the ODI World Cup, but couldn’t cross the line against Australia. On Saturday, however, the stars had aligned. Pat Cummins’ hat-trick didn’t matter. Neither did the fighting fifty from Glenn Maxwell. Naveen-ul-Haq (3/20) and Gulbadin Naib (4/20) rose to the occasion — sharing seven wickets between them — to take Afghanistan across the line | p11 ■ ■ For Australia, its simple. They have to beat India by a significant margin. If it is a close result, they need Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan in the evening match Afghanistan will know what they need to do when they take the field. There is a chance of three teams finishing with 2 points each 45 Mohammad Nabi has been part of int’l wins against 45 countries CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI from july 1 Illam Thedi Kalvi to be downsized by over 60% in TN S u b a s h i n i V i j aya k u m a r @ Chennai The Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme, touted as the largest volunteer-based door-to-door education programme in the country and aimed at bridging learning gaps and losses caused by the pandemic, will be downsized by over 60% and implemented only in areas with identified needs from July 1. According to officials, the scheme will now focus only on educationally backward and priority blocks in districts, hilly regions and areas with high population of marginalised communities. The scheme, which was providing remedial lessons for students in classes 1-8 till now, will now be implemented only for primary classes, said sources. Initially, it was implemented by more than two lakh volunteers in two lakh centres across 92,000 habita- tions in the state. These volunteers imparted daily lessons for classes 1 to 8 in Tamil, English, Maths, Science, Social Science, and Environmental Studies after school as remedial teaching and were paid `1,000 per month. At present, officials said there are 1.5-1.6 lakh centres functioning. After the reopening on June 10, the department instructed schools not to operate Illam Thedi Kalvi centres until further notice. Currently, the department is in the process of conducting training for the volunteers in batches across the state. According to sources, the number of centres is expected to be reduced to 50,000 in around 180 blocks across the state. “During the training, we will elicit views of the volunteers regarding their needs. The centres that need to continue will be identified, and classes will be gin next month,” said an official. express read Three women fetching water killed by speeding car Thoothukudi: Three women were killed and another was injured after being hit by a car as they were fetching water from roadside taps at Mukkani village in Thoothukudi on Sunday morning. Nattar Santhi (50) died on the spot while Amaravathi (58) and Parvathi (35) died on the way to hospital. Police arrested the car driver, Manikandan (27), from Perungulam. Chief Minister MK Stalin condoled the deaths and announced a compensation of `3 lakh to the kin of each deceased | P4 Isro’s Reusable Launch Vehicle ‘Pushpak’ lands during Sunday’s final test | PTI Isro’s reusable launch vehicle test successful E x p r e ss N e ws S e r v i c e @ Chitradurga It was super Sunday for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) as it successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment for the third consecutive time. The third and final Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX) was conducted at 7.10 am at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Kudapura in Challakere taluk of Chitradurga. The mission demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of the launch vehicle under more challenging conditions at the ATR. The vehicle, Pushpak, was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km. Pushpak autonomously executed cross-range correction manoeuvres, approached the runway and performed a precise horizontal landing at the centreline. Because of Pushpak’s low lift-todrag ratio aerodynamic configuration, the landing velocity exceeded 320 kmph, compared to 260 kmph for a commercial aircraft. After the touchdown, the vehicle velocity was reduced to nearly 100 kmph using its brake parachute. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director S Unnikrishnan Nair said this success bolsters Isro’s confidence in critical technologies necessary for future orbital re-entry missions. CBI takes over NEET-UG probe, registers FIR Special teams formed, despatched to Bihar and Gujarat where cases of question paper leaks have been registered Poor turnout for retest as 50% candidates absent MU K E S H RANJAN @ New Delhi THE Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday filed an FIR and initiated a probe into alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEETUG held on May 5 on a complaint it received from the Union education ministry officials , said. The complaint by the Department of Higher Education, now part of the FIR, cites “certain isolated incidents” in a few states during the conduct of the examination. In its communication to the CBI, the education department sought a detailed probe into conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence by candidates, institutes and middlemen. The department has also requested the CBI to look into the role of public servants, if any, connected with the conduct of the examination. The central probe agency has sent its teams Bihar’s Patna and also to Godhra in Gujarat, where cases of question paper leaks have been registered by local police, officials said, adding that the CBI may take over those cases. “The probe agency has accordingly registered a criminal case and initiated an investigation. Special teams have been formed by it to investigate the matter on top priority. Teams are being sent to Patna and Godhra, where local police have registered cases in this regard,” a senior CBI official said. The allegations of irregularities sparked protests in several cities and a litany of litigation. decision to award grace marks was strange, as the rule book clearly states that in the event THE NEET-UG retest for 1,563 of an exam delay, extra time candidates who were previous- should be granted at the centre. ly awarded grace marks saw The source highlighted that the poor turnout as only half of top 100,000 students from 4,750 them took the re-examination centres showcased the nationconducted on Sunday across wide desire to succeed. seven centres in Chhattisgarh, The re-exam saw varied atGujarat, Haryana, Meghalaya, tendance rates across different and Chandigarh. According to states and centres. Gujarat reofficials, only 813 (52%) attend- corded the highest attendance ed the re-test, while at 100%, while Chan750 (48%) chose to digarh had the lowest 63 debarred skip it. at 0%. In Chandigarh Sixty-three The re-test was (UT), none of the two candidates have held on the orders of eligible candidates been debarred the Supreme Court appeared. In Chhatnationwide for following complaints tisgarh, of the 602 elimalpractices of irregularities in gible candidates, 291 during the NEETthe medical entrance (48.34%) appeared. UG, according to exam after 1,563 canGujarat’s Surat had the NTA. This didates were given one eligible candidate includes 17 grace marks to make who attended, achievcandidates from up for the loss of time ing a 100% attendi n s o m e c e n t r e s Bihar and 30 from ance rate. In Jhajjar, Godhra where the test started Haryana, DAV Police late on May 5. Public School and Apart from the controversy Kendriya Vidyalaya saw 287 out over the award of grace marks, of 494 (58.09%) eligible candithe coveted entrance test was dates attend. In Meghalaya, 234 also marred by allegations of out of 464 (50.43%) eligible canpaper leak, putting the Nation- didates appeared for the exam. al Testing Agency, which conEducation ministry sources ducted the tests, in poor. said that education had been Speaking to this newspaper, “unbundled” with exam coacha high-level source in the Union ing centres being at the foreeducation ministry admitted front, driven by parents’ desire that the NTA did not “instill for their children’s success. Ofconfidence” among the public. ficials rubbished rumours that The source mentioned that the NTA portal has been hacked. K ETAN NAROTTAM TANNA @ New Delhi Screen grab of CBI personnel confronted by villagers in Bihar’s Nawada district Probe team attacked in Bihar A team of CBI officials probing alleged irregularities in the conduct of the UGC-NET examination was attacked by a mob in Bihar’s Nawada district after which four persons were arrested by police on a complaint from the central agency, officials said Sunday. According to police, the villagers attacked the CBI team under the impression that they were imposters trying to harass them on the pretext of investigation. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the CBI sleuths reached Kasiadeeh village. Some officials sustained minor injuries in the scuffle Opposition parties have also latched on to the issue to put pressure on the government ahead of Parliament session. Meanwile, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad questioned two teachers who run a private coaching centre in Latur in connection with the alleged irregularities. It is to be noted that besides NEET-UG, three other exams -UGC NET, CSIR-UGC NET, and NEET-PG -- have also faced controversy. The UGC NET was cancelled by the government a day after the exam, while the CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG exams have been postponed. To combat exam malpractice, the central government has also notified rules to implement the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. This Act aims to prevent unfair practices in public examinations and address related issues. Also, high-level panel of experts chaired by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan has been formed to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations. P7 Security forces bust Parl session to begin today Maoist fake currency amid pro-tem speaker row operation in C’garh P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi E j a z K a i s e r @ Raipur Security forces on Sunday tracked down a Maoist-run facility in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh which was allegedly being used for printing counterfeit currency notes. On receiving a tip-off, a joint team of security forces comprising personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), District Reserve Guards of the Chhattisgarh Police, and Bastar Fighters — a special force formed in 2022 to fight Maoist threat — launched a joint search operation. “Recovered a cache of counterfeit notes, colour printers, more than 200 ink bottles, printer cartridges, rollers and other equipment,” Sukma police chief Kiran Chouhan said. He added that the ultras managed to escape into a nearby jungle as the forces were closing in on the facility . Sources said currency notes of denominations of `50, 100, 200 and 500 were recovered during a search. Chouhan said Maoists have resorted to printing fake currency notes to cope with a fall in cash flow amid aggressive counter-insurgency operations by the security forces. “The pressure had mounted on the extremists after several new security camps that were set up in remote areas started derailing their funding source,” Chouhan said. In a separate incident, two CRPF jawans were killed when the ultras blew up a truck with an improvised explosive device in the Sukma district. The deceased jawans were identified as constable Vishnu R, 35, from Kerala, and driver Shailendra, 29, from Uttar Pradesh. The two belonged to the force’s jungle warfare unit CoBRA. The incident happened near Timmapuram village between Silger and Tekalgudem camps of the security forces. AMID the row over appointment of seven-term member Bhartruhari Mahtab of the BJP as pro-tem speaker, the inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha is set to begin on a combative note on Monday . The first day of the special Parliament session will see oath-taking by 280 newly elected MPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers. The remaining 264 parliamentarians including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will take oath on Tuesday The focus will be shift. ed to the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26 and President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of the both Houses on June 27. The row over pro-tem speaker is likely to escalate on Monday as three Opposition MPs consider pulling out of the panel of chairpersons to assist Mahtab in carrying out the proceedings of the House till the election of the Speaker. Early this week, President Murmu appointed Mahtab as pro-tem speaker and nominated a panel of senior MPs including Congress’ Kodikunnil Suresh, DMK MP T R Baalu, TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, and BJP leaders Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste to assist Mahtab. Speaking to this newspaper, K Suresh said a final decision on boycotting the panel will be taken on Monday . The Opposition is up in arms over Mahtab’s appointment. They allege the claim of K Suresh, an eighth-term MP, to the post was bypassed by the government. Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says that Mahtab has had seven uninterrupted terms as a Lok Sabha member, making him eligible for the post and the Congress is trying to mislead people. The Opposition and the government are likely to lock horns over the election of the Speaker and deputy speaker posts. While the government remains secretive about its Speaker candidate, the Opposition stands firm on its claim to the deputy speaker post. The debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, which begins on June 28, may also witness stor my scenes. The Opposition will try to pressure the government on various issues including NEETUG and UGC-NET exams, new criminal laws, and the Kanchanjunga Express accident. The PM is likely to respond to debate on July 2 or 3. Both Houses will go into a brief recess and re-assemble on July 22 for Budget. TN hooch tragedy: One more dead, six return home on day 5 K r i t h i ka S r i n i vasa n @ Kallakurichi With the death of one more person, the toll in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy reached 56 on Sunday Six people were dis. charged even as only one more person was hospitalised on Sunday. The number of patients undergoing treatment in four hospitals was 219. Meanwhile, the body of one Jayamurugan of Madhavacheri village was exhumed on orders of the district collector to The number of victims undergoing treatment stands at 219 on Sunday | Sriram r conduct an autopsy as his family claimed he had died on June 18 after consuming hooch. The family of one Ilayaraja from the same village, who also died that day, made a similar claim and sought compensation but his body had been cremated, sources said. The official list of deceased from hooch consumption mentioned the person as having been treated at a private hospital but officials told TNIE that the death is not verified yet. Speaking to TNIE, locals and former district officials reiterated that the hooch business had been thriving in the region for decades under the nose of the administration. After Karunapuram, which saw 32 deaths, Seshasamudram and Madhavacheri under Sankarapuram taluk are the worst affected villages, with eight deceased and 57 of the 219 hospitalised hailing from there. The two villages lie near the Gomuki Dam below Kalvarayan hills and adjacent to Velli hills. p5 Seismic Hazard Infrastructure not up to mark in quake-prone Kovai & Salem S V K RI S HNA C HAITANYA @ Chennai About 80% of areas in Coimbatore and Salem are susceptible to moderate earthquakes (Zone III seismic hazard) while the remaining 20% has a seismic hazard of high intensity quakes (Zone IV), a study conducted by Anna University has found. Worryingly, a majority of infrastructure and buildings in these cities are not designed to withstand seismic forces of this intensity . The study titled ‘Seismic Haz, ard Assessment and Microzonation of Salem and Coimbatore cities was commissioned by the state Revenue Administration and Disaster Management department and conducted by Anna University’s Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management as part of the state government’s plan to conduct seismic hazard assessment. Salem city’s earthquake risk was upgraded from hazard category Zone II to Zone III in 2002; most of the structures built prior to 2002 are not designed to Zone III requirements. As a result, the study said that even moderate earthquake events in Salem and Coimbatore cities may lead to loss of life due to the failure of buildings and infrastructure. In some cases, collapse of the structure can occur due to lack of ductility (how much a material can be deformed before it fractures). Kurian Joseph, director, CCCDM, told TNIE, “The moderately high hazard levels are distributed in parts of south and east corporation zones of Salem; and parts of south and central zones of Coimbatore.” p5
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