Min Max 250C 400C Weather 02 Sunday nagapattinam l C Sh i v ak u m a r @ Chennai Body of 3 youths who drowned at falls recovered E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Dindigul Fire and rescue services personnel on Saturday morning recovered the bodies of three youngsters, who allegedly drowned on Friday night, at the waterfalls near Oddanchatram in Dindigul. The bodies of A Adhil (19), N Ayabas, S Aiyas (18) were retrieved, while N S a d d a m H ussein is s till missing. The incident took place on Friday when a group of 11 people from Karur district travelled to the waterfalls in Virupatchi on Friday evening. Despite a ban on entry into the waterfalls, the group managed to enter the Thaiyur Falls. While bathing in the upper stretch, four of them went missing. The group attempted to save them in vain. Personnel from Oddanchatram fire station on Saturday morning resumed search operations and e recovered the bodies of the three youths. Retail diesel prices at OMC outlets in Tamil Nadu, however, remain unchanged at `92.40 per litre | express per litre, while outlets operated by Shell plc quote an even higher rate of `124.66 per litre. The shift has also tightened credit terms. “Earlier, some oil marketing companies extended credit of three to five days. Now, they have reverted to stricter norms, effectively moving to a day-end credit cycle,” Murali said. Dealers receiving early morning supplies are now required to @ Chennai Wondering why the management at Manali Petrochemicals Limited (MPL) was seeking a direction going against the “consistent call” to have the age raised, the Madras High Court refused to interfere with an order of the industrial disputes tribunal which had ruled against the reduction of the retirement age of the company’s workers from 60 to 58 years. Disposing of a batch of petitions regarding the awards passed by the tribunal on various issues including the reduction of retirement age and pension schemes recently, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy wondered why the management at MPL was seeking such direction when there is a consistent call to raise the age. The judge noted that at the time of recruitment in Plant-I of SPIC (formerly Manali Petrochemicals Limited), the age of superannuation was specified as 60 years. Apart from uniformity no other reason was given. Second, it must be noted that even when considering the region and major industries such as Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), the age of retirement is 60 years, the judge said. “Further more, in every sector, there is a consistent call to raise the retirement age, and this is being done because improvements in average life expectancy, worker productivity and health standards have improved. There is no justification for moving in the opposite direction and lowering the retirement age from 60 to 58 years,” he added in the order. BACK TO BASICS Amid LPG supply disruption, a restaurant owner at Madukkarai market in Coimbatore shifts to a wood-fired tava stove made up of bricks and soil | S Senbagapandiyan ‘Film scenes critical of TVK must’ve been cut’ E XPR E SS N E WS S E RVIC E @ Erode It is alleged that the film ‘TN 2026’ contains scenes criticising the TVK. The Censor Board should have removed those scenes. It is not right during election season and is distressing to include such scenes in a film, in violation of the Model Code of Conduct, said TVK chief coordinator KA Sengottaiyan, in Erode on Saturday . Speaking to re- settle payments by the end of the day . The changes have left around 25% of the dealers under strain, many of whom are resorting to short-term borrowing to maintain supplies and prevent stockouts. Oil companies have also advised dealers to maintain a minimum inventory of three days. “There is adequate fuel availability at present,” Murali said. Tamil Nadu has more than 7,000 outlets operated by public sector OMCs, with average daily diesel sales of about 4,000 kilolitres. Meanwhile, A Anbalagan, president of the All Omni Bus Owners Association, said the increase in bulk fuel prices has raised operating costs for omni bus operators by `1,000 to `1,500 per trip. “We have not yet passed on the hike to commuters due to competition and strong seasonal demand,” he told TNIE, adding that larger operators with fleet of over 45 buses typically run their own refuelling stations. HC slams firm for going against trend, refuses to reduce retirement age E XPR E SS N E WS S E RVIC E porters in Erode, Sengottaiyan said, “The people of Tamil Nadu want change. It will definitely happen in the upcoming Assembly election. In 1977, for mer chief minister MG Ramachandran created history by achieving a massive victory in a four-way contest. At present, a four-way contest is prevailing as well. Vijay will certainly create history in the upcoming election.” “Initially, MGR 06.25 pm Moonrise  09.12 pm Moonset 08.44 am l ‘No justice’ in Vengaivayal case, Dalits to boycott polls Omni bus operators, others forced to buy diesel at `141/L compared to pre-war rate of `82/L ly, while ensuring retail consumption remains largely unaffected,” he said. Retail diesel prices at staterun OMCs - Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation - as well as private retailer Reliance Industries, remain unchanged at `92.40 per litre in the state. Diesel sold by Nayara Energy, however, is priced at `95.54 Sunset 05 04 2026 With war-linked curbs in place, bulk buyers shell out 60% more for fuel With oil marketing companies (OMCs) in Tamil Nadu instructing dealers to restrict diesel sales to commercial buyers in view of the Gulf conflict, the bulk consumers are forced to forego discounts and shell out market-linked rates, which currently stands at `141 per litre, the Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association stated. According to industry sources, bulk consumers like industries, transport operators and commercial establishments were buying high-speed diesel (HSD) at `82/litre just before the start of the West Asia conflict. Once the war started, the market-linked rate of the fuel rose to `113 before increasing sharply to `141 per litre. K Murali, president of the Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association, said bulk consumers were offered diesel at discounted rates before the outbreak of the Gulf conflict. “Post-war, bulk buyers are being charged market-linked prices, which have risen sharp- Forecast Very warm Sunrise 06.08 am (M G Ramachandran). too, faced various criticism. Some mocked that the party would last 100 days like a movie. But MGR changed that. Vijay too will overcome obstacles and create a record,” Sengottaiyan added. “Our whistle symbol has reached people well. Our chances of winning in Erode are bright. The Kongu region will become the TVK’s stronghold,” the TVK leader further told media persons.. A total of 3,22,273 have trekked to Velliangiri so far this year | express 2 more die in Velliangiri, season toll now at six E XPR E SS N E WS S E RVIC E @ Coimbatore Two people died en route to t h e Ve l l i a n g i r i H i l l s o n Saturday .  The number of devotees who died during the trek of the seven-hill range to visit the hilltop shrine increased to six this season with the latest casualties. Last year, seven people died due to various health reasons while climbing the hills. M Saravanan, a resident of Factory Church Road in Parangimalai in Kanchipuram district died allegedly due to cardiac arrest at the third hill of Velliangiri on Saturday morning. A Sreenivasan, a 45-year-old native of Madurai, died on Saturday evening. Forest department sources said Saravanan was a cab driver. He and his friend were on the way to the temple atop the seventh hill. They had arrived from Chennai only on Saturday morning for the pilgrimage. Saravanan complained of stomach upset to his friend and attended nature’s call near the bushes along the trekking route. After resuming the trek, he soon felt unwell and collapsed. The information was shared to the Boluvampatti forest department staff who deputed dolly workers to bring his body to the foothills where the government doctors posted at the duty confirmed he was dead. “As per the doctor’s statement, Saravanan could have died due to cardiac arrest. This will also be confirmed after the postmortem. After the postmortem at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, the body will be handed over to his relatives,” said sources. Meanwhile, Sreenivasan, a resident of 40 feet road in Madurai, died allegedly due to breathing difficulties and chest pain at the fourth hill.   He had arrived with his son to visit the hill shrine. “In 2025, in all 2.50 lakh devotees trekked the hills between February 1 and May 31. However, so far this year 3,22,273 devotees arrived,” said a forest departmentm official.    Pea r s o n L eneka r SR @ Pudukkottai Union Minister Piyush Goyal and other BJP leaders releasing the white paper on ‘Tamil Nadu’s finances’ | Ashwin prasath BJP releases white paper, Goyal says TN will be bankrupt soon borrowing even for day-to-day expenses. “We can understand if borClaiming that Tamil Nadu is rowings are used for capital exheading towards bankruptcy penditure like highways and under an “inept and corrupt” power infrastructure. But what government and its misgovern- assets have you created?” he ance, Union Minister Piyush questioned. He claimed that the Goyal on Saturday launched a state is required to pay `76,000 scathing attack on the DMK al- crore towards interest this year, leging that the state has become leaving little room for capital an “ATM” for Chief expenditure. Minister M K Stalin’s When asked about family, as the BJP rethe slew of welfare leased a comprehenmeasures promised by sive, multi-perspective the AIADMK and Every member of the family, white paper on Tamil whether they would including M K Nadu’s financial strain the state’s fiStalin, situation. nances, he said curbUdhayanidhi Speaking after reing corruption, which leasing the document, Stalin, Kanimozhi he alleged has pervadand Sabareesan, Goyal claimed that the ed every sphere of has their hands CM has no answers to gover nance, would muddied in this questions on the generate sufficient resaga of loot and state’s finances and is sources for both welmisgovernance attempting to divert fare schemes and capiUnion Minister public attention tal investment. Piyush Goyal through “false There was no elecnarratives”. tion campaign of PM “Every member of the fami- Narendra Modi planned in TN, ly including M K Stalin, Udhay- he said, adding that it’s a fake , anidhi Stalin, Kanimozhi and narrative spread by the DMK. Sabareesan, has their hands Meanwhile, Goyal, TN BJP muddied in this saga of loot president Nainar Nagenthran, a n d m i s g ove r n a n c e, ” h e and other party functionaries alleged. welcomed a group of 345 Indian Goyal said the state’s debt fishermen, including 327 from has nearly doubled to `10 lakh Tamil Nadu, who returned crore in the past five years. He from Iran amid the West Asia alleged that the government is conflict. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Chennai Citing lack of justice in the 2022 Vengaivayal case where human faeces were found mixed in an overhead water tank supplying potable water to a Dalit community both Dalits , and caste Hindus of Muthukadu panchayat under Kulathur taluk have announced a boycott of the election. Dalits in Vengaivayal have demanded a fresh probe, alleging that the investigation has unfairly shifted blame onto the victims. Villagers said they had informed authorities about their decision, following which district officials from Keeranur called them for a peace committee meeting. However, residents said their stand remains firm. “We conveyed our position clearly Victims are being treat. ed as the accused. We want a fresh probe,” said Murugan of Vengaivayal. In Eraiyur, caste Hindus have demanded immediate arrest of those identified by the CB-CID. Banners highlighting these demands have been put up at the village entrance. “We have 547 voters from two caste Hindu communities from this village. We have repeatedly raised our concerns, but to no avail. We even boycotted the parliamentary elections earlier, with only two votes cast. This time, we are firm,” said M Kathiresan, a local resident. Residents of Erayur also flagged civic issues, including poor road connectivity and inadequate bus services. Sources in the district administration said efforts were under way to hold peace committee meetings in each village. According to the CB-CID, J Muraliraja, B Sudharshan and K Muthukrishnan allegedly committed the offence due to personal enmity linked to the dismissal of a tank operator, ruling out caste motive. Hotter April in store, says think-tank, flags ‘high risk’ to voters on April 23 SV K RIS H N A C H A I TA N YA @ Chennai Adding to concerns of heatwave-like conditions prevailing in parts of the state post April 10, a Delhi-based think tank has flagged “very high” risk to voter safety in the upcoming Assembly election due to rising temperatures, high humidity and erratic rainfall patterns. A new analysis by Climate Trends of April weather trends between 2021 and 2025 shows that TN recorded some of its highest temperatures in recent years, continuing a long-term warming trajectory of (+)0.68 degree Celsius per century (1901-2023). The state is also witnessing a steady rise in minimum temperatures, particularly in coastal districts, amplifying night-time heat stress. Humidity, in particular, is emerging as a critical multiplier. Tamil Nadu has been placed in the “very high” heat stress category, with coastal regions increasingly experiencing wetbulb conditions, where high moisture levels significantly reduce the body’s ability to cool itself. This combination of heat and humidity is expected to peak through April, coinciding with the polling period. Rainfall variability adds another layer of uncertainty Data . show sharp swings from a 63% deficit in 2024 to a 60% excess in 2025 alongside a rise in heavy rainfall events. Even as heat dominates, this increases the likelihood of sudden pre-monsoon showers and localised disr uptions, the think-tank stated. It is against this backdrop that the Assembly elections are scheduled, placing climate risk at the centre of election management. With polling typically scheduled during peak daytime heat, data indicate a “very high” risk to voter turnout and safety in Tamil Nadu due to extreme heat and humidity. The The analysis by Climate Trends of April weather trends between 2021 and 2025 shows that TN recorded some of its highest temperatures in recent years | express The evolving climate conditions could directly impact elections in several ways, including reduced voter turnout due to heat and discomfort, and operational disruptions Mahesh, Skymet Weather Regional Meteorological Centre has already indicated that post-April 10, heatwave-like conditions are likely in north coastal and interior districts. “These evolving climate conditions could directly impact elections in several ways, including reduced voter turnout due to heat and discomfort, heightened health risks for voters and polling personnel, and operational disruptions caused by extreme weather events,” said Mahesh Palawat, V-P (Meteorology and Climate Change), Skymet Weather. Former chief election commissioner OP Rawat said au- thorities have begun factoring in climatic conditions. “Keeping temperature rise in mind, polling starts early in the morning and continues till evening. Tools like polling station trackers help manage crowding, and provisions such as home voting for persons with disabilities are aimed at reducing exposure,” he said. Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology attrib, uted the rising heat to sustained warming of the Indian Ocean. “In fact, the Indian Ocean has warmed more rapidly than any other tropical basin, with parts of the western region warming by more than 1 degree Celsius during the 20th century. This has altered moisture convergence zones and increased atmospheric water vapour content, all of which influence pre-monsoon convection.”