Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 38 ℃ | Low: 28 ℃ | Sultry weather for the day!
🧐 Did you know? The Egmore railway station is located on property that Senjee Pulnee Andy once owned. He became the first Indian to go abroad for a medical degree. The Southern Indian Railway Company wanted the property for its northern terminus.
🏥 Treating the elderly
The National Centre of Ageing (NCA) at Guindy plays a vital role in elder care, especially for those from economically weaker sections.
What’s it about? Since its inauguration in February, the NCA has seen over 10,000 out-patients receive care. Geriatric care is often haphazard in other hospitals, but at the NCA, patients and kin say staff have patience and they pay attention.
- The NCA has four modular operation theatres and one minor one. It has five wards with 25 beds each. The rooms, including the air-conditioned ones, are available at subsidised rates.
- The common cases are cardiac ailments. Diabetes and hypertension are among the most common comorbidities for the elderly. As the summer heats, there are also cases of heat burns and dehydration.
Making everything accessible: The hospital has been designed with accessibility in mind, with grab bars and railings in the corridors and washrooms. The hospital will soon have battery cars to help people commute between the premises.
🗳️ Poor voter turnout
Estimates show that the city’s voter turnout wasn’t as high as officials hoped it would be.
What’s it about? Eight assembly constituencies in the city, including Anna Nagar, Mylapore, and Saidapet, registered the lowest voter turnout. A detailed analysis is expected to be done to see why this happened.
- Across the city, Thousand Lights recorded the lowest turnout with 52.4%. The remaining seven hovered around 53%.
- Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar in the Chennai North constituency registered the highest with 66.75%. In Chennai Central, Egmore had the highest turnout, with 56.9%. Sholinganallur had the highest in Chennai South, with 55.33%.
Booth capturing allegations: BJP candidate for Chennai South Tamilisai Soundararajan asked for a repoll in booth no.13 in division 122 in Tyenampet, alleging DMK sympathisers polled bogus votes. She also alleged booth capturing in booths 14, 15, and 16 in St Francis Xavier Girls School, Alwarpet.
👮 Keeping the EVMs safe
The sealed EVMs are being guarded around the clock with high security.
What’s it about? Now that polling is over, the sealed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being guarded with high security. Political parties are also keeping a close watch, with teams in rotations at the facility.
- After polling closed and the EVMs were locked up, political parties asked candidates and cadres to stay vigilant and guard the facilities 24×7.
- In Chennai, the EVMs are kept at three centres, which will become counting centres on June 4. They’re at Queen Mary’s College, Loyola College, and Anna University.
Three-layer security: The ECI has deployed a three-layer security detail consisting of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP), and the Greater Chennai Police Armed Reserve.
🎓 IIT’s achievements and future goals
IIT Madras has exceeded its patent targets and has a new goal of 100 startups by graduates in the coming year.
What’s it about? The institute surpassed its patent filing target with over 370 filed in the previous academic year. It has filed about 2,330 applications, with 1800 in India and 750 abroad. The institute now has a goal of 100 startups by graduates in the coming year.
- During IIT-Madras’s 65th Institute Day, Director V Kamakoti announced the institute ranked second in the National Institutional Ranking Framework for research and innovation.
- The patents and intellectual properties have propelled the institute nationally and globally as a hub for innovation. The new startup goal translates to about one startup every three days.
Diverse fields: The institute has research across varied fields like wireless networks, advanced materials, robotics, and other emerging technologies.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Was there a good turnout at your polling station?
- There was a good turnout at my polling station.
- There wasn’t a good turnout at my polling station.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Do you plan on taking a summer vacation?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Transit passengers from Chennai flying to the UK, Europe, and the US via Dubai were affected due to flooding and rain in the UAE.
- A detailed project report for a metro line from the Poonamallee bypass to the upcoming Parandur airport will be prepared in less than a year.
- A new pathway has been created between the Kilambakkam Terminus and the Kalaingar Bus Terminus to facilitate passenger movement.
- For World Heritage Day, the Indian government has organised a three-day model train show.
- The office space market in the city has witnessed a boom thanks to offshoring.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!