Due to high number of virus cases, flights from Gujarat and Maharashtra may be kept at the barest minimum level and “there is no issue for operating any number of outgoing flights from Tamil Nadu”.
CNN-News18chennai
Last Updated: May 25, 2021, 12:11 AM IST
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Ending uncertainty over resumption of domestic flight services in the state from Monday, the Tamil Nadu government allowed passenger operations at the airports here and three other cities and notified guidelines, which included 14 days home quarantine and an e-pass for entry.
On Sunday, it apprised the Centre that incoming domestic flights to Chennai can be restricted to 25 per day.
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There is no limitation on operations of flights to Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli (the three other airports in the state), Chief Secretary K Shanmugam told the Centre in a letter.
Due to high number of virus cases, flights from Gujarat and Maharashtra may be kept at the barest minimum level and “there is no issue for operating any number of outgoing flights from Tamil Nadu,” Shanmugam said.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), which has separate norms for incoming and outgoing passengers and procedures to be followed at the airport, said asymptomatic people shall undergo home quarantine for 14 days.
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It said if air journey was undertaken without meeting the eligibility criteria they would be liable for penal action. Passengers who do not have a residence in Tamil Nadu and opting for paid quarantine, shall be sent to designated hotels for institutional quarantine, a Government Order on SOP said.
Earlier in the day, there was uncertainty over resumption of flight operations with officials of the airports and the city corporation saying they were awaiting announcement of the government’s final decision and the SoP, which finally came late on Sunday.
The order said people who were found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility and then subjected to confirmatory RT-PCR test.
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Those testing positive for COVID-19 and having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to a hospital or a health centre and people with mild symptoms will be given the option of home isolation. Those who test negative for the virus shall be in home quarantine for 14 days.
The government made it clear that all air passengers flying into Tamil Nadu should obtain a “TN e-pass” through the TN e-pass portal by agreeing to conditions that are set out in the form of a declaration. The e-pass travel permit will be issued with a QR code.
Among the riders are that they were not from any containment zones and they had not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two months and undertake to adhere to all the norms of the State government.
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If the passengers do not fulfill such conditions, they will not be eligible to travel to Tamil Nadu. “All passengers will be stamped with quarantine
seal with date with indelible ink before they are allowed to move out of the airport.”
Temperature checking, carrying out disinfection of luggage were among the procedures detailed for implementation at the airports.
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Outward travellers will be screened and only those without symptoms for the virus shall be allowed to board the flight, the government said.
Tamil Nadu had earlier opposed allowing domestic flight operations till May 31 in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state.
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A tragic incident has shaken the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge and Technologies (RGUKT) in Basar town of Telangana’s Nirmal district as a 17-year-old student, B. Arvind, allegedly died by suicide in the hostel on Tuesday, just days before the commencement of exams. The police have launched an investigation into the matter.
Hailing from Siddipet district, Arvind was a student of the Pre-University Course (PUC) second year at the institute known as IIIT Basar. This unfortunate event adds to the distressing trend of student suicides at the university, with several such incidents reported in recent years.
In February, a 17-year-old female student took her life in the hostel due to the inability to cope with the death of a relative. In 2023 alone, six students at IIIT Basar have died by suicide, highlighting a concerning pattern. The university has witnessed tragic events like a student ending his life due to homesickness and another student falling from the fourth floor under suspicious circumstances.
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The alarming number of student suicides at IIIT Basar raises concerns about the mental well-being and support system available to students. The institute must address these issues promptly to prevent further tragic incidents from occurring on its campus. The authorities need to prioritize mental health support and create a safe environment for students.
Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat has become a center of attention with unexpected twists in the upcoming elections. Sreekala Reddy Singh, wife of former mafia don and MP Dhananjay Singh, will now compete on BSP’s symbol after her husband’s conviction in a kidnapping case. BJP’s Kripa Shankar Singh and SP’s Babu Singh Kushwaha were the main contenders until now.
Dhananjay Singh’s influence in Jaunpur could play a significant role as he had won in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. The Thakur vote might split between Dhananjay Singh and Kripa Shankar Singh. With Sreekala Reddy Singh’s entry, equations have been disrupted, adding an interesting element to the election dynamics.
In a constituency known for its ‘imarti’ sweet and Chameli oil, Jaunpur faces challenges of neglect and lack of employment opportunities. Sreekala Reddy Singh, asserting her connection to the constituency, states, “Jaunpur will contest the election for me. I am their daughter-in-law and will do as the people of this constituency say.”
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While Kripa Shankar Singh expresses confidence in BJP’s performance under PM Modi and CM Yogi, Babu Singh Kushwaha is relying on the support of OBCs, especially the Nishad votes in the region. The election in Jaunpur, scheduled for the sixth phase on May 25, is expected to be a closely watched contest with shifting political equations in play.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Dr T. N. Vamsha Tilak as its candidate for the upcoming by-election in Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly constituency. The by-election is scheduled to take place on May 13, along with the Lok Sabha polls, after the seat fell vacant following the untimely death of MLA Lasya Nanditha in a road accident.
Nanditha, who was elected in November 2023, passed away in February 2024, leading the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to nominate her sister Nivedita as their candidate. With the main opposition party aiming to leverage the sympathy garnered post Nanditha’s demise, the election is expected to be closely contested.
Nanditha’s victory in 2023 saw her defeat BJP’s Narayanan Sri Ganesh by a notable margin of 17,169 votes. Sri Ganesh, who has since joined the Congress party, has been named as the Congress candidate for the upcoming by-election. The contest between Tilak, Nivedita, and Sri Ganesh is set to be a crucial one in the political landscape of Secunderabad Cantonment.
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