South Connect : Cyclone Gaja wreaks havoc in Tamil Nadu

Kerala:Activist Trupti Desai, who wants to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple in defiance of a decades-old custom on women of menstrual age, has been blocked by hundreds of protesters at the Kochi airport since she landed at 4:30 am on Friday. The protesters, who staunchly support the restrictions on women despite the Supreme Court ending the ban in a landmark order in September, say they won't allow Trupti Desai and her six colleagues to step out of the airport. Taxi drivers say they will not take the visitors anywhere.

Tamil Nadu:Severe cyclonic storm 'Gaja' crossed between the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranniyam early Friday, with wind speed gusting up to 120 km per hour, a weather bulletin said. According to Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, as many as 76,290 people were evacuated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 300 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur. Due to Cyclone Gaja, a holiday has been declared for educational institutions in Nagapattinam.

Telangana:Unaccounted cash worth Rs. 70 crore was seized in separate searches carried out in poll-bound Telangana on different occasions, since the Model Code of Conduct came into force, a poll official said today. Besides, illegal liquor worth Rs. 6.70 crore was seized by the police and income tax officers, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told reporters in Hyderabad.

Karnataka:The Karnataka government is now among those to have entered the statue race as it plans to install a 125 feet tall one of Mother Cauvery near the Krishnarajasagara Dam on Cauvery River in Mandya district. The project, estimated to cost around Rs. 1,200 crore, will require about 400 acres of land and is expected to be ready after two years.

Andhra Pradesh:In a decision that is certain to trigger a fresh face-off with the Centre, the Andhra Pradesh government has stated that Central Bureau of Investigation personnel will now have to seek prior permission before entry into the state for official work.

The state government has issued a notification withdrawing consent accorded to officers of the investigation agency to carry out search and operations without informing it first.