Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has come up with a new scheme to provide safe housing for the people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The scheme titled SAFE – “Secure Accommodation and Facility Enhancement” aims to enable Scheduled Caste families to get safe housing with all basic amenities.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Minister K Radhakrishnan announced in the Assembly. Currently, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department is implementing projects for housing completion. But technically, the quality of the houses is not guaranteed even if the house is completed.

Many homes lack basic amenities such as clean kitchens, clean toilets, tiled floors, quality plumbing, and wiring. The new plan is to address this. The project will help in providing housing with all basic facilities. By shifting from a mere structure to comprehensive housing with all facilities, the Scheduled Tribes can achieve self-esteem along with security.

The project will be implemented under the supervision of accredited engineers appointed in the department. Homes completed after April 1, 2007, will be considered in SAFE.

Idukki: The bodies of the five people who went missing in the landslide near Kudayathur Sangamam in Idukki have been found. The bodies of Saman, his wife Jaya, daughter Shima, mother Thankamma, and grandson Devanand were found.

The rescue operation is going on intensively with the help of JCB. The authorities have warned that there is a possibility of another landslide. The landslide occurred at three o’clock in the morning today. The house is completely under the ground. Therefore, the rescue operation is very difficult.

There was heavy rain in the area last night. The landslide occurred at the end of this rain. By the time the locals came running after hearing a loud noise, the house was completely washed away. The revenue department, police, and fire force team are on the spot. People recover by removing soil using JCB. The NDRF team will also come for a search. The team from Thrissur has already left for Thodupuzha. As the rains have stopped in the area at present, the rescue operations are going smoothly.

A landslide near Nadukani on Pulianmala State Road blocked traffic. The district collector has informed that night travel on Thodupuzha Pulianmala road will be prohibited due to the landslide situation. He also informed that a decision will be taken in the evening on whether to ban travel in the hilly areas.

Thiruvananthapuram: On the occasion of Onam, government employees will be given a bonus of Rs. 4000, and those who are not eligible for the bonus will get a special festival allowance of Rs 2750, Finance Minister KN Balagopal announced. 1000 will be given to service pensioners and retired employees under the participation pension scheme as a special festival allowance.

20,000 will be given as Onam advance to all government employees in the state. Advance is Rs. 6000 for other employees including part-time – contingent.

All categories of employees, including the contract-scheme workers who received Utsava Batta last year, will get Utsava Batta at the same rate this year. Special assistance will reach more than 13 lakh employees and workers on the occasion of Onam.

Thiruvananthapuram:  Widespread rain is likely to continue in the state. The Central Meteorological Department has informed us that there is a possibility of heavy rain in Kerala till Thursday. A yellow alert was announced today in 9 districts.

Yellow alert today in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
Widespread rains are caused by a cyclonic system over southwest Bihar and adjacent areas, another cyclonic system over the central part of the south Bay of Bengal, and a low-pressure area from the south Bay of Bengal to south Tamil Nadu.

As there is a possibility of isolated heavy thundershowers over the hilly areas, vigilance similar to the orange alert should be observed in the hilly areas which have received heavy rains in the past few days. People in low-lying areas, river banks, and hilly areas prone to landslides should be extra cautious as the rains continue in areas that have received heavy rainfall in the past few days.

Thiruvananthapuram: The weather forecast says widespread rain is likely in the state today. A yellow alert was declared in 6 districts.
The northern districts of the state have received heavy rains in the last few days.

Yellow alert in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, and Malappuram districts. The Meteorological Department has announced that rain will continue in Kerala till Wednesday. A red alert has been declared at the Idamalayar dam after the water level rose due to heavy rains.

At present, the water level in Idamalayar dam is 163.5 feet. According to the rule curve, when the water level reaches 164 feet, the shutters of the dam will open. At present the water level in the Periyar river is low.

Kozhikode: One more suspect was arrested in Kozhikode parallel telephone exchange case. Abdul Ghafoor, a native of Kozhikode Beypore, was arrested.

Meanwhile, the district crime branch has received information that the Kozhikode gang leader has helped the people including Abdul Ghafoor, a native of Beypore, to go into hiding. It is also said that this gang leader is used to resolve the dispute in the real estate transactions of the accused. It was this gangster’s gang who guarded the house of the accused in the case of the murder of Shaba Sharif, a local doctor in Mysuru.

He is a companion of Abdul Ghafoor, a native of Beypore. This gangster is known as the mediator in many financial transaction disputes in the city. He also has connections with some high-ranking officials.