Thiruvananthapuram: The rakes of the first Vande Bharat Express allotted to Kerala have reached the state. The train departed from the yard of Integral Coach Factory in Perambur, Chennai, and reached Palakkad at 11 am today. A train with 16 coaches reached Kerala.

Under the leadership of BJP state general secretary C Krishnakumar and district president KM Haridas, Palakkad gave a grand welcome to Vande Bharat. BJP workers garlanded the loco pilot and distributed sweets at the railway station. Vandebharat rakes will reach Kochuveli today evening.

Initially, one train will operate for Kerala. It is reported that there will be eight stops namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode, and Kannur. The train leaves Thiruvananthapuram in the morning and reaches Kannur in the afternoon. The service is being considered every half an hour.

The most important feature is that the Vandebharat can reach a speed of 100 kmph in 50 seconds. Fully AC coaches, Vande Bharat is provided with front and rear driving seats. Other features of the Vandebharat train include automatic doors, superior seats including revolving chairs in executive class, GPS passenger information system, LED lighting, and bio-vacuum lavatories modeled on airplanes.

The service will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will arrive in Kerala on the 24 The Railways has also issued seven guidelines to do the numbering. It is indicated that there is a plan to hold the inauguration in Thiruvananthapuram on the morning of the 25th.

The speed of the train is less than 180 kmph. But it is difficult to provide the service at the speed of 130 per hour. 90-110 KM average speed service will be available in Kerala. 

Thiruvananthapuram: High-temperature warning continues in the state today. There is a warning for 5 districts. Thrissur, Palakkad, and Kannur districts are likely to see a high of 39 °C (3°C to 4°C above normal). The Central Meteorological Department has warned that the temperature may rise to 37°C (2°C to 3°C above normal) in Kottayam and Kozhikode districts.

Officially, Palakkad and Karipur airports recorded the highest temperature of the year (39°C) in the state. Earlier in Kannur, Palakkad had recorded the highest temperature (38.6°C) this year. The heatwave-like situation in North India is the reason for the rise in temperature in the state. Summer rainfall is generally weak. Isolated rains may occur but the heat may not subside.

Kochi: High Court allows private buses to operate on long-distance routes. The decision of the transport department was that private buses cannot operate above 140 km. The interim order of the Division Bench of the High Court was in the petition filed against this.

This order is a setback for KSRTC which operates on long distance routes. The High Court’s order said that the existing permits on these routes can continue for the time being and steps can be taken to renew the existing permits. This order will affect the Swift buses operating on long distance routes.

Thiruvananthapuram:  Five more people have been arrested in the case of beating up a young man by stripping him naked on the ‘quotation’ of his girlfriend to withdraw from the relationship. The absconding Ernakulam natives surrendered at the Ayirur police station around 10.30 am on Thursday.

The second accused is Abhinav (18) of Elur Manjummal Panakkal House, the third accused is Obath (21) alias Kiki at Palarivattam Kattungal House, the fourth accused is Atul Prashant (22) of Thrikakkara Toppil Ambadi, the sixth accused is Ashwin Raj (21) of Kanjirathingalveet, Kalamassery Moolepadam Road, the eighth accused is Edappally B.T. S. Neeraj (22) surrendered in a road accident. The police recorded their arrest. With this, the number of people arrested in the case has increased to seven. The first accused Laxmipriya (19) from Cherunniyur Thannimood and the ninth accused Amal Mohan (24) from Ernakulam were arrested yesterday.

The fifth accused psycho Joseph and the seventh accused Isa are now to be arrested. Abhinav is Lakshmpriya’s friend. All other accused are friends of Abhinav. On April 5, the gang abducted and beat up a youth from Varkala Ayroor. The police case is that the reason behind the violence was his unwillingness to withdraw from his romantic relationship with Laxmipriya.

Kochi: Sriram Venkataraman get a setback in case of death of journalist KM Basheer by car.  The High Court held that the charge of murder against Sriram Venkataraman would stand.  The Sessions Court judgment was partially set aside by the High Court.  The action is taking into account the government’s appeal.

 The High Court leveled serious allegations against Sriram Venkataraman.  The court pointed out that Sriram tried to destroy the evidence in the case.  Sriram was driving the vehicle after drinking.  The court also assessed that prima facie the vehicle was over speeding.  Wafa Firoz, who was the second accused, was dropped from the case.  The action of the court is considering the appeal of Wafa.  They were charged with incitement.  The High Court ruled that it would not stand and did not have to go to the trial stage.  A bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas gave the judgment on the petition.

 The incident related to the case took place in 2019.  Journalist Bashir was killed when the car driven by Sriram Venkataraman hit him.