NAGAPATTINAM l monday l may 04, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l CITY EDITION National childhood diabetes treatment framework live universal screening of all children The document, for the first time, establishes a structured and standardised national framework, positioning India among a select group of countries that have integrated childhood diabetes care into the public health system. The framework aims to ensure universal screening of all children from birth to 18 years for early identification of diabetes Union Health Ministry on Sunday released a document providing a framework for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood diabetes Provision for free-of-cost care package ■ ■ Suspected cases will undergo immediate blood glucose testing and be referred to district health facilities for diagnosis and treatment A key feature is the provision of a comprehensive free-of-cost care package at public health facilities, including diagnostic services, lifelong insulin therapy, glucometers, test strips, and regular follow-up | P7 3 Lakh Children in india are living with diabetes, as per one estimate 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 All eyes on which way the On counting eve, power pendulum swings DMK, AIADMK file Results of Assam, West Bengal, TN, Kerala & Puducherry polls today P R EE T H A N A I R @ New Delhi Phogat flags bias ahead of comeback tournament H A R P R EE T B A J W A & F i r o z M i r z a @ Chandigarh / Chennai DAYS before her comeback event, Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Sunday said she is among the six victims who had lodged sexual harassment complaints against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Phogat, now a Congress MLA from Haryana’s Julana, is set to participate in the National Open Ranking Tournament to be held on May 1012 in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, a stronghold of Bhushan. She had quit the sport after she was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics for being 100 gms overweight. In a video message on Sunday, Phogat said she is worried about her safety and fears unfair treatment. “This tournament is being organised at Gonda, where Brij Bhushan’s home is. It is impossible to think wrestlers will get a fair chance to excel there. Which referee will officiate which match, who has to win, who will lose… all that can be controlled by his people,” she alleged. The WFI dismissed her allegations. “If she fears for her safety I would personally , go and pick her up from her place and bring her to the venue. I will also drop her back,” WFI president Sanjay Kumar Singh told TNIE. royals& sold to mittals co for `15,600 cr Lakshmi Mittal and his son, Aditya Mittal, have acquired a 75 per cent stake in Rajasthan Royals franchise in the IPL. Vaccine giant Adar Poonawalla will hold 18 per cent | P11 as votes are counted in the high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry on Monday, all eyes are on the outcome, which will shape new political alignments and power equations. With the exit polls setting the tone, regional heavyweights such as the DMK in Tamil Nadu, TMC in West Bengal, and CPI(M) in Kerala are seeking to retain power, even as BJP attempts to expand its footprint beyond traditional bastions. In West Bengal, the results will be crucial in determining whether the three-term Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee can withstand a fierce challenge from the saffron party and secure another term in office. While several exit polls showed a tight race between the BJP and the TMC, a historic breakthrough for the BJP would be to breach the TMC stronghold for the first time. If the TMC secures a strong mandate in Bengal, Mamata will solidify her position in national politics. Tamil Nadu presents another Security personnel patrol the streets of Howrah in Kolkata on Sunday | PTI What’s at stake State Total Halfway Seats Mark West Bengal* 294 148 Tamil Nadu 234 118 Kerala 140 71 Assam 126 64 Puducherry 30 16 TOTAL 824 — * Result of Falta constituency to be declared after repolling intriguing contest. The DMK, under Chief Minister M K Stalin, is hoping for a second consecutive term, while the AIADMK, now aligned with the BJP , is attempting a comeback. All eyes are on the new entrant TVK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay which has added a , new dimension to the race. In Kerala, the results will be a make-or-break for the Congress, which is hoping to return to power buoyed by its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and recent local body elections. The ruling LDF, led by Chief Minister PiAssembly elections narayi Vijayan, is seeking a third consecutive term, while the BJP-led NDA is attempting to gain a foothold in the state with a bipolar polity. A defeat for the LDF would also mark the first time since the 1960s that Left parties are not in power in any state. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking a second consecutive term, with the Congress aiming to mount a credible challenge. Puducherry, known for its history of electoral alternation, is also witnessing a closely fought battle, with exit polls indicating a tight contest. complaints to CEO 8,505 register on first day for TN engg admissions E X P R ESS NE W S SE R VICE @ Chennai B i n i ta J a i s wa l @ Chennai With exit polls predicting the possibility of a razor-thin margin of victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, political tensions have peaked in Tamil Nadu. On the eve of the results, the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK have approached Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik with a flurry of complaints, each accusing the other of attempting to compromise the integrity of Monday’s counting process. DMK organisation secretary RS Bharathi, in his representation to the CEO, alleged that the DMK has credible information that the BJP and other parties acting at its behest may attempt to create ruckus at the counting centres and nearby sensitive locations, including party offices, to disrupt the counting process. Stating that such orchestrated, large-scale law and order issues may seriously affect a free and fair electoral process, Bharathi urged the CEO to take all steps to ensure maintenance of peace, public order and the integrity of the counting process across TN on Monday . Talking to reporters in Chennai, Bharathi said the ECI should operate above suspicion, given the many complaints about the commission’s activities in other states. “However, the DMK is ready to face any eventualities,” he added. Meanwhile, AIADMK Advocates Wing secretary IS Inbadurai has complained to the Chief Election Commissioner, CEO, and the Special Observer, alleging misuse of press passes to gain unauthorised access to counting centres. He claimed certain individuals linked to the DMK IT Wing sought press accreditation, with some officials allegedly issuing passes to non-media persons. Cautioning that this could compromise transparency and affect the level playing field, he sought immediate verification of passes, strict scrutiny, cancellation of irregular passes, and fixing of accountability on the officials to ensure a free, fair, and credible counting process.  P5 The first day of registrations for the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2026 saw an encouraging response, with 8,505 students signing up by 6 pm on Sunday marking the start , of the state’s centralised online engineering admission process conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE). In 2025, 443 colleges participated in the TNEA counselling, offering 2,54,585 seats. This year, the number of engineering seats available in the state may almost be the same, sources said. According to official data, of the total registered candidates, 1,008 students had completed payment of the application fee, while 299 had successfully uploaded their certificates for verification on day one. The online application process officially opened on May 3 through the portals www.tneaonline.org and www.dte.tn.gov.in As per the tentative schedule released by DoTE, the last date for registration is June 2, while candidates can upload their documents until June 6. The certificate verification process will take place between June 8 and June 20. The rank list is set to be published on June 29. Students will also be given a window from June 30 to July 4 to address grievances related to rankings or application discrepancies. The counselling schedule will be announced later, subject to approval from All India Council for Technical Education. During registration, candidates are required to upload relevant certificates. In case of discrepancies, applicants will be notified via their re gistered mobile number or email and may be asked to visit a TNEA Facilitation Centre (TFC). To assist students, 110 TFCs have been set up across TN, with details available on the official website.  P5 Iran dispatches new 14-point proposal to US to break talk deadlock ‘Impossible military op’ vs bad deal Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Sunday said the US faced a choice between an “impossible” military operation or a “bad deal” with Tehran, after Trump disparaged Iran’s latest peace proposal. “The room for US has narrowed,” they said UK military says bulk carrier hit A bulk carrier near the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly been attacked by multiple small craft, UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said on Sunday, warning warns all vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz with caution A g e n c i e s @ Tehran EYEING to break the deadlock over peace talks with the US, Iran has conveyed a “multilayered proposal” to Washington, a senior official in the know said on Sunday . While US President Donald Trump has not rejected Iran’s latest 14-point proposal outright, experts believe Washington is unlikely to accept any framework that does not include firm guarantees preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. The Iran war, launched by the US and Israel on February 28, has been on hold since April 8, with one round of peace talks having taken place unfruitfully in Islamabad since then. The official told PTI that the fresh day Iran proposal is a phased de-escalation framework. “The first component of the plan focuses on urgent de-escalation measures. Iran has indicated willingness to ease tensions in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, provided Washington reciprocates by scaling back its military posture and easing economic pressure,” he said. Secondly Iran is seeking to decouple the res, toration of maritime trade and oil flows from nuclear negotiations. Thirdly, Iran says it is open to discussing limits on uranium enrichment and enhanced monitoring mechanisms, but only within a broader agreement that guarantees sanctions relief. “The proposal further includes demands for security guarantees, who pre-empt the risk of future military action,” he said. 65 testing time for med aspirants Medical aspirants appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2026 wait outside an examination centre in Madurai on Sunday. Over one lakh students took the exam across centres in Tamil Nadu | KK SUNDAR Pest and drought: Mango yield dips 50% in TN hub J e v i n S e lw y n H e n r y @ Dharmapuri Mango harvest in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, the hub for the ‘king of fruits’ in the state, has declined by nearly 50% this year, with farmers citing a variety of reasons such as increased pest attacks, water shortage, anthracnose infections, and erratic weather. In several areas in the two districts, the productivity, which usually stands at 9 to 10 tonnes per hectare, has dropped by more than 50% to nearly 5 tonnes. In Tamil Nadu, mangoes are cultivated in a total area of 1.25 lakh hectares with a production of 5.38 lakh tonnes (average productivity across TN is 6.5 tonnes/hectare). Of the major districts cultivating mangoes, Krishnagiri occupies the prime position with an area of 33,679 hectares and production of around 3 lakh tonnes per hectare, fol- Gukesh begins specific prep for Sindarov challenge @ Chennai WORLD champion D Gukesh has started his specific training prep for the upcoming title c l a s h a g a i n s t J avo k h i r Sindarov. While his principal coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, didn’t reveal much about the training schedule, the Pole confirmed that ‘it has begun’ to this daily . The teen, who has had a mixed time of it since winning the Classical world title in Singapore in December 2024, has only only made sporadic appearances on the circuit in 2026. It’s assumed that Gukesh has been working on new ideas and novelties since the Uzbek phenom wiped the field to win the Candidates tournament last month in Cyprus. In fact, the world will get the first glimpse of champion v. challenger as early as this week when the two face each other in the Rapid & Blitz section in Warsaw. With the first few rounds set for Tuesday, it may offer a peek into the mindset of both Gukesh and Sindarov. This tournament is another opportunity for the Indian to get back into form. Gukesh, who has lost over 50 rating points in the last year, had initially signed on to feature in the Grand Chess Tour. However, in March, he pulled out of a slew of GCT events for ‘more dedicated training time’ at home. Apart from beginning training prep for the clash a g ainst Sindarov, the World No. 19 will also have to put in place a new team to tackle the challenge. His seconds for the Ding Liren match was Radosław Wojtaszek, Pentala Harikrishna, Vincent Keymer, Jan Klimkowski According to ES Samraj, a farmer from Elumichanahalli in Dharmapuri, the past few years have been utterly dreadful for mango cultivators. “Last year, we faced a crisis when procurement prices dropped to `4,500 per tonne. With less than two weeks left for the harvest season to start, our produce is dying due to pest attacks. Usually, my farms yield about 9 to 10 tonnes per hectare, but this year we can barely get 3 tonnes per hectare.”  P5 E x p ress R ead c h ess w o r l d c h a m p i o ns h i p s s war o o p s wam i n atha n lowed by Dharmapuri with an area of 18,388 hectares and an annual production of 1.69 lakh tonnes per hectare. Of this, 80% of the production is Totapuri or Bengalura, which is often procured by pulp factories in Krishnagiri, while the table top varieties like Neelum, Alphonsa, Imman Pasant and others account for the remaining 20% (as per TNAU data), and are sold in local markets. and Jan-Krzysztof Duda. How many of these players will sign on for this match? Keymer’s profile has risen to such a level that the German is now World No. 7 and is now higher rated than the Indian. The same is true for Duda, the World No. 14. However, that may not necessarily stop them from ‘helping’ Gukesh as it gives both of those players, who harbour serious ambitions themselves, a glimpse into preparations. 9 dead as massive fire guts building in Delhi NEW DELHI: A devastating fire ripped through a residential building in east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar in the early hours of Sunday, leaving nine people from two families, including a toddler, dead, with an air-conditioner blast suspected to have triggered the blaze, officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the east Delhi building fire and announced an ex-gratia of `2 lakh to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives and `50,000 to those who were injured, as per an official note. Light rain likely in TN districts on May 4, 5 Chennai: Even as dog days continue in Chennai, Vellore once again emerged as the hottest region in the state at 42.7°C, followed by Tiruttani (42.2°C) and Erode (41.2°C). Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast light to moderate rain along with thunderstorms and gusty winds over several TN districts on May 4 and 5. However, hot and humid conditions are likely to continue in Chennai, with maximum temperatures expected to hover around 39°C to 40°C for the next three days