Thiruvananthapuram

Main Headlines

1. President Droupadi Murmu visited the Sabarimala temple. The President was accorded a Purnakumbham reception at Sannidhanam.
2. The President will unveil the bust of former President K. R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan tomorrow and inaugurate the Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Centenary celebrations at Sivagiri.
3. Kerala becomes the country’s first state free from extreme poverty. The announcement will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on November 1st.
4. The Central Meteorological Department predicts very heavy rain will continue in the state. Orange alert in 10 districts today. Fishing ban along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts until Sunday.
5. The country honours Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra by granting him the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.
6. In the 67th State School Athletics Meet, the host district Thiruvananthapuram is leading.

Detailed News Reports

President’s Kerala Visit

President Droupadi Murmu, continuing her Kerala visit, offered prayers at the Sabarimala temple today. She ascended the 18 holy steps and was received with a Purnakumbham reception. Tomorrow, the President will unveil the bust of former President K. R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan and will inaugurate the Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Centenary celebrations at Sivagiri.

Traffic restrictions are in place in Thiruvananthapuram city tonight and tomorrow due to the visit. School timings in Kottayam district have been rescheduled for tomorrow and the day after.

Kerala Achieves Historic Milestone

The announcement that Kerala has become the country’s first state free from extreme poverty will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on November 1st. The state lifted nearly sixty thousand families out of poverty, a goal achieved by coordinating the government machinery and public under the leadership of the Local Self-Government Department, as per Minister M. B. Rajesh.

Heavy Rain Alert

The Central Meteorological Department has predicted that very heavy rain will continue in the state. An Orange Alert has been declared in 10 districts today. A Yellow Alert is in effect for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kannur, and Kasaragod. A fishing ban is imposed along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts until Sunday. Additionally, three shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam have been closed, though water is being discharged from 10 other shutters.

Cabinet Decisions

• The State Cabinet has decided to provide financial assistance to 1,031 eligible persons who were excluded from the final list of Endosulfan victims in Kasaragod.
• Flats will be allotted to 50 extremely poor, landless families in Alappuzha district under the Fisheries Department.

Sports & Honours

Olympic Javelin Throw medallist Neeraj Chopra was conferred the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in New Delhi by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

In the 67th State School Athletics Meet, the host district Thiruvananthapuram is leading with 639 points (74 Gold). Kannur and Kozhikode hold the second and third positions, respectively. The main athletic events are set to commence tomorrow.

Other News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 127th edition of the radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ will air on the 26th of this month at 11 am.
• Minister R. Bindu inaugurated the website for the state government’s Kerala Internship Scheme.
• A protest march by ASHA workers to the Chief Minister’s residence, Cliff House, led to a conflict with police using water cannons.
• The gold price in the state has fallen twice today, with the sovereign price dropping to ₹92,320 by noon.
• The state BJP leadership, via President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a Central agency investigation into the Sabarimala gold plating issue and Devaswom Board affairs.
• In the ICC Women’s World Cup, Australia has a target of 245 runs against England.