Thiruvananthapuram: Yellow alert has been announced in eight districts due to heat wave in the state.  Kollam, Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts have been warned.

 According to the Central Meteorological Department, the temperature is likely to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal.  Palakkad is 38 degrees Celsius, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Kannur districts are 37 degrees Celsius.  Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts may experience a temperature of 36 degrees.  The Disaster Management Authority and the Health Department have warned that exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided as much as possible.

 The Public Education Department has announced an inquiry into the question paper leak incident. Public Education and Employment Minister V Sivankutty directed the Director of Public Education to conduct a departmental inquiry. The Director of Public Education has also lodged a complaint with the DGP.

 The Higher Secondary Directorate staff will hand over the packet containing the question paper to the Principals. Minister V Sivankutty stated that the public education department is taking the leak of the question paper very seriously in this situation.

 Idukki: The protest by the students of Thodupuzha Co-operative Law College after threatening to commit suicide has ended.  The solution was in the discussion with the sub-collector.  The strike was called off with the assurance that an impartial committee would look into the students’ grievances.

 The strike started at 4 pm on Tuesday and lasted for 7 hours.  They demanded the resignation of the principal, cancellation of marks given to one student undeservedly, inquiry into the ragging complaint and withdrawal of the expulsion of the protesting students.  However, despite the management’s assurance that they would do everything except the resignation of the principal, the students did not stop their strike.

 Then DySP to Tehsildar tried to resolve it but nothing happened.  Finally at 10 pm Dean Kuriakos and Sub Collector Arun S Nair had a discussion with the students.  It assured that the present governing body of the college would be removed and administrative rule would be imposed.  The students ended their strike with the assurance of investigating the irregularities committed by the management and teachers in the administrative administration.