madurai l tuesday l november 05, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION U.S. all set for Kamala vs Trump electoral showdown today The presidential race appears to be hurtling towards a photo finish, with the last set of polls showing a close contest between the two first results by early wednesday Candidates make final push in key states Over 244 million Americans are eligible to vote, of which 78 million have already cast their ballots in early voting. In most US states, voting will start either at 6 am or 7 am local time. The first results will be out around 6 p.m. eastern time (4.30 am IST on Wednesday). Tightness of the race means, it could possibly take a few days for the final results to emerge | P11 ■ ■ Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump spent Monday, the last day before the election, in key battleground states, making their final pitches to the undecided voters to back them Elections for all 435 seats in the US House and 34 seats in the Senate will also be held. Republicans are in majority in the House at present Jan 20 when the new president will take oath of office 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 36 die as bus falls into U’khand gorge Khalistani attack on Canada temple cowardly: Modi weather system 9 districts may get heavy rain on Nov 8 & 9 Bhavani water flooded homes at Vellipalayam in Mettupalayam | Express Ex p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) on Monday predicted heavy rain at isolated places across nine districts including Chengalpattu, Villuppuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram on November 8 and 9. Puducherry and Karaikal may also receive heavy rainfall during this period. Weather bloggers have predicted that Chennai may start receiving rainfall from November 7 as the cyclonic circulation over Bay of Bengal could develop into a low-pressure area. According to the RMC, two cyclonic circulations are currently active — one over the southeast Arabian Sea off Kerala coast and another over southeast Bay of Bengal. A trough extends from the cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal to south Tamil Nadu, extending up to 3.1 km above mean sea level. “There is a possibility that the cyclonic circulation over southeast Bay of Bengal could develop into a low-pressure area. Another cyclonic circulation is also expected over the Andaman Sea around Tuesday , which is also expected to intensify. We anticipate these systems will bring rain to Chennai and surrounding regions from November 7,” said independent weather blogger K Srikanth. The RMC said heavy rain is likely at some places in Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Madurai, Theni, and Virudhunagar districts on November 10.  P5 10 women among dead Of the 36 killed, 10 are women. Twenty-eight people died on the spot and eight succumbed to injuries in the Ramdutt Joshi Joint Hospital, Ramnagar People beaten up, consular event disrupted; 3 held; violence unacceptable, says Trudeau Yeshi Seli and Harpreet Bajwa @ New Delhi/Chandigarh Returning to work A state disaster relief force official said the bus was carrying people who were returning to work after spending the long Diwali weekend at home Rescuers look for survivors amid the mangled remains of the bus | PTI Jittery markets TUMBLE ahead of tight U.S. polls AR S HAD K HAN @ New Delhi INDIA’s equity markets fell sharply on Monday with benchmark indices NSE Nifty and BSE Sensex plummeting up to 2% in intraday deals to their lowest level in four months. The fresh selloff is attributed to the nervousness ahead of the US presidential election, continuous FPI/FII selling, and a disappointing September quarter earnings season. According to analysts, expectations of a fresh stimulus package by China to prop up growth also triggered selling in Indian stocks. Markets across the world are feeling the impact of a close contest between Don- WHY THE MARKETS CRASHED 1 Uncertainty ahead of US presidential elections 2 Relentless selling by foreign investors 3 Expectations of a fresh stimulus package by China Sensex A private bus plunged into a gorge in Uttarakhand’s Almora district on Monday, killing 36 people and injuring 27 others. The bus was on its way from Likhwal to Ramnagar when it fell 200 metres into the gorge in Koopi village in the district’s Marchula area around 8 am. The 43-seater bus had 63 passengers on board when the accident happened. “The bus was just 35 kilometers from its destination, Ramnagar, when it plummeted 200 metres into a gorge in Almora’s Marchula area,” Almora District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey said. He said the bus, operated by the Garhwal Motor Owners Association, had left Pauri in the state’s Garhwal region on Sunday evening for Ramnagar, about 250 km away . Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) told this newspaper that four SDRF teams were dispatched to the site upon receiving information about the incident. “We received information about the accident at 8.45 am on Monday Immedi. ately four SDRF teams were dis, patched. Our personnel pulled out the injured and the bodies of those killed by breaking the glass and cutting through iron sheets of the bus,” he said. Soon after the incident, Assistant Regional Transport officials of the Pauri and Almora districts were suspended on orders of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The chief minister announced `4 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the deceased and `1 lakh for those injured. Separately, the Prime Minister’s Office announced `2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and `50,000 for the injured. Chief Minister Dhami instructed the Commissioner of Kumaon, Mandal Deepak Rawat to conduct a magisterial inquiry into the accident. NIFTy NARENDRA S ETHI @ Dehradun 78,782.24 941.88 23,995.35 309 6 LAKH CR wiped out as market cap falls from `448 lakh cr MANIC MONDAY to `442 lakh cr 4,329.79 CR pulled out by FIIs on Monday ald Trump and Kamala Harris as the world’s biggest economy is all set to elect its next President. “We believe Harris’ win will be neutral/mean continuity for the economy, equities, and other asset classes. Trump would have a reasonable impact on emerging markets (EMs), equities, and currency due to de-globalisation. Amongst EMs, we expect rela- tively positive impact for India in the long-run,” said Anjali Verma and Navaneeth Vijayan of Phillip Capital in a recent note. The US Federal Reserve’s policy outcome is scheduled for Thursday, with the street anticipating a 25-basis-point rate cut. However, this may not have a favourable impact on the market, as the rate cut is already priced in. Amid a diplomatic chill between India and Canada, Khalistanis radicals attacked devotees on the premises of a temple in Brampton, drawing widespread condemnation, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Videos showed protesters with Khalistani flags attacking people and indulging in fistfights at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton on Sunday, disrupting a consular event coorganised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate there. The attack happened despite the presence of the Peel Regional Police at the site. The police later arrested three persons and slapped criminal charges against them. “Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of the law,’’ Modi said in a strongly-worded statement. The Indian High Commission in Ottawa shared its disappointment at disruption of the consular camp. “It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work, organised by our consulates with fullest cooperation of local co-organisers. We also remain very concerned for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demands such events are organised,’’ the Indian mission said in a statement. India also said attempts at disrupting similar camps in Vancouver and Surrey were also made. Consular camps in future will be contingent on security arrangements made by the local authorities, the statement added. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the leader of the opposition Pierre Poilievre condemned the attack. “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely said Trudeau. “Completely ,” unacceptable to see violence targeting worshippers,” said Poilievre. I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law - Narendra Modi, prime minister Unchecked khalistani extremism “This exposes just how deep and unchecked Khalistani extremism runs in Canada.... any Hindu who dares to question or resist this is swiftly branded an ‘Indian agent’, accused of engaging in so-called ‘transnational repression’,” the Coalition of Hindus of North America said Stalin: Don’t have time to answer ‘newbies’ who desire DMK’s destruction wish to convey this to them: Please ponder over the achievements of the DMK government Days after Thamizhaga Vetri during the past three and a half Kazhagam chief Vijay launched years.” a broadside against the DMK at Stating that through schemes his party’s first state confer- like Naan Mudhalvan, Puduence, Chief Minister MK Stalin mai Penn, Thamizh Pudhalvan, on Monday took a etc, a large number of veiled dig at him, sayyouths have benefited, ing that he doesn’t the CM said, “On the want to waste his time other hand, there are We don’t want to by responding to those waste our time by people who complain ‘newbies’ who want that this government responding to DMK to be destroyed. has not done anything. those ‘newbies’ “As Aringnar Anna who want DMK to The DMK government said, our only answer be destroyed. Our has been fulfilling all only answer to to them is ‘vaazhga its electoral promises vasavaalargar’(long them is ‘vaazhga and a few more promvasavaalargar’ live the abusers),” said ises will also be fulthe CM at a function filled in the coming MK Stalin , organised by Anitha days. This government Chief Minister Achievers Academy in has increased the emKolathur. ployment opportuni“Our natural tendency is to ties for youth. A large number do good for the people. We will of investors are coming tocontinue to work for their wel- wards Tamil Nadu and we have fare. Those who launch new po- been producing the human relitical parties wish that the sources necessary for these inDMK should be eliminated. I vestments.  P5 Lokayukta police to quiz Siddaramaiah tomorrow E X PRE S S NEW S S ERVICE @ Mysuru The Lokayukta Police have summoned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for questioning on Wednesday in connection with the alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 MUDA sites to his wife Parvathi. Siddaramaiah, who is campaigning in Shiggaon, has confirmed it saying: “Yes, I will go to their office in Mysuru on Wednesday .” After the questioning, Siddaramaiah will proceed to Channapatna to campaign for Congress candidate C P Yogeshwara, who is contesting the byelection to the Legislative Assembly from that constituency sources said. , T h e L o k ay u k t a Po l i c e launched an inquiry based on complaints of alleged irregularities in MUDA in acquiring 3.18 acres of land bearing survey No. 468 at Kesare from Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi and allotting 14 sites to her in upmarket Vijayanagar locality in Mysuru, thereby causing a big loss to the state’s exchequer. Parvathi, Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, landowner Devaraj, and a few other persons have already been questioned by the Lokayukta Police. A Lokayukta Police team recently visited MUDA offices in Mysuru and examined the records pertaining to the land acquired at Kesare from Parvathi for formation of a residential layout, allotment of 14 sites to her, and other documents related to the 3.18 acres of land. e x pr e ss r e ad Students fall ill in Chennai school again Chennai: Two weeks after 35 students fell ill due to suspected gas leak at a private school in Thiruvottiyur, four students fainted on Monday morning after experiencing nausea, while three others reported fever, chills and vomiting. They are all stable. Ex p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai Chief Minister MK Stalin handing over aid to beneficiaries on Monday | P jawahar MUDA scam CM opens first govt-run co-working space in TN Last sortie Smoke billows out after an IAF plane crashed near Agra on Monday. The pilot of the aircraft ejected safely | PTI Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday inaugurated the state’s first government-run co-working and learning space, ‘Muthalvar Padaippagam’, on Jagannathan Street at Agaram in his Kolathur constituency | P4 SC boy attacked by dominant caste gang in road rage Ex p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Tirunelveli In a shocking incident, similar to the Nanguneri caste violence, a 17-year-old Scheduled Caste boy was brutally attacked by a gang belonging to a dominant caste (MBC) with a sickle inside his house at Melapattam village near Tirunelveli on Monday. The attack happened after the boy questioned the gang members for recklessly driving a car near his house. “The boy resides with his elder brother and parents at Melapattam. While his elder brother is a third-year college student, the boy is a second year polytechnic student. Both parents are employed and usu- ally return home only in the evening. On Monday, the elder son had gone to college, leaving the younger one alone at home. Around noon, as the boy was walking near his house, a car sped past him dangerously, almost hitting him. He questioned the occupants of the car about reckless driving. This led to a confrontation between the boy and the gang. Another bystander intervened, diffused the situation, and persuaded both the parties to leave the spot,” said sources. “However, in the evening the same gang accompanied by some others entered the boy’s house. Taking advantage of his parents’ absence, the assailants attacked the boy, smashing a The gang ransacked the boy’s home and attacked him with a sickle | Express beer bottle on his head and assaulting him with a sickle. They also damaged household items before fleeing the scene. Neighbours rushed the injured youth to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, where he was admitted to the emergency ward. His parents arrived shortly after, upon hearing of the brutal assault,” sources added. When contacted by TNIE, Superintendent of Police N Silambarasan said the police were in the process of getting a complaint from the boy and registering an FIR. Sources said that more than five assailants who were involved in the attack have gone underground. Last year, in a caste attack in Nanguneri, a gang of students belonging to a dominant caste hacked an SC student and his sister at their house.