He will lay the foundation stone of the complex which is a complete "Make in India" initiative aimed at reducing dependence on imports.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to dedicate the Mounded Storage Vessel of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited and will then move on to Ettumannor in Kottayam district to lay the foundation stone of a Skill Development Institute, promoted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Later in the evening, Modi will address a state meeting of the Yuva Morcha in Thrissur after which he will return to Delhi.
This will be Modi's second visit to Kerala this month.
The SKS said the shutdown was intended to oppose the role of the Kerala government which apparently facilitated the entry of the women inside the temple before dawn on Wednesday.
There were skirmishes at various places between the organisers of the shutdown and those who tried to resist it.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sangh parivar forces have pledged their support to the SKS shutdown call, and their activists are enforcing it.
While state-owned and private buses are off the road, private vehicles, mostly two wheelers are plying. Private cars are also moving in Thiruvananthapuram and other major cities in Kerala.
Ten people in Kannur were arrested after they attacked vehicles that plied before the BJP office.
Even as the two traders' body in the state had announced that they would open their shops, in several places, shops were yet to open.
However, in Kozhikode, traders were determined to open their shops, even as the SKS and BJP activists were protesting.
"This frequent calling of shutdown is not acceptable as we are determined to open the shops and from now on, we will open in future also," said a group of shopkeepers at Kozhikode.
Similarly, in Thevara near Kochi, shops are open.
An incident of stone pelting at an interstate bus from Karnataka was reported from Kozhikode district.
Similar incidents have also been reported from Kasargode, Palakkad and certain other places.
Various university examinations scheduled for Thursday have been postponed and all educational institutions in the state are closed.
Meanwhile, the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to see that strong action is taken against those who try to create trouble during the shutdown.
At Pandalam in Alappuzha district, angry BJP and Sangh parivar activists took out a protest march, after one of their supporters who was injured in a stone throwing by CPI-M workers, on Wednesday, died late night.
One CPI-M worker has been arrested and the wife of the deceased said the family does not believe that a fair probe will happen.
While Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers took to the streets across the state, the party has called for a Thiruvananthapuram shutdown on Tuesday to protest so-called "police high-handedness".
Both the Congress and the BJP have been protesting against the Kerala government as it has been extending the prohibitory orders in the temple town ever since the Lord Ayyappa shrine opened on November 16.
The protests by three UDF legislators in the foyer of the House entered the eighth day on Monday.
Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told the media in the Assembly they came in with a lot of expectation on Monday after Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan called them for a meeting.
"We thought we would get good news that the government has decided to lift the prohibitory orders in Sabarimala. But we were told that it was not ready for it. We want the prohibitory orders to go as it will send a message across the country that the temple town is peaceful," he said.
"It has been 23 days since the festival season began and till now only 8.5 million pilgrims have come. Had things been peaceful, the number of pilgrims arriving would have increased like any season in the past."
The average number of pilgrims who normally arrive in the temple town over the past seasons was at least 1 lakh a day.
BJP General Secretary A.N. Radhakrishnan's indefinite fast in front of the state Secretariat entered the eighth day on Monday.
Union IT Minister K.J. Alphonse, after visiting Radhakrishnan, urged the Kerala government to work in a democratic manner.
"We live in a democratic country and those in power should stick to democratic traditions when dealing with issues," said Alphonse.
The Kerala government has promised to implement the apex court's verdict that struck down a hitherto tradition of not allowing girls and women within 10-50 years from visiting the temple.
"The protests at Sabarimala are not acceptable as it is against the verdict of the Supreme Court," a High Court bench said, rejecting the request for bail by Kochi resident Govind Madhusudhan.
"If the bail application is considered, it will send wrong signals and similar incidents will recur again," the court said.
Madhusudhan was arrested at the temple town during protests against the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50, effectively opening up the shrine to all women.
The police have arrested over 3,500 people and registered close to 540 cases. Around 100 people are still in judicial custody.
The protesters last month prevented 12 women from entering the temple. Similar protests were seen when the temple opened for a day on November 5 when three women were forced to return without offering prayers.
On Sunday morning, Sabarimala tantri family member and activist Rahul Eashwar was arrested in Kochi taking the total number of arrests since October 26 to 3,346.
He was arrested after the police received a complaint stating that he had made provocative remarks over the issue at a press conference in Kochi last week.
Meanwhile in the last 12 hours, over 500 arrests was recorded at police stations in Pathanamthitta district -- where the Lord Ayyappa shrine is located -- as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam.
So far only 122 are in remand, while others have been released on bail, according to the police.
However, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra has directed that no arrest should be made of those people who protested by taking part in singing hymns and prayers.
These arrests have been made for defying the September 28 Supreme Court order that overturned a ban on women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hilltop temple where celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped.
Defending the arrests, state Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Sunday told the media that this wasnormal police action when the rule of law is breached.
"During the previous Congress-led UDF rule, over four lakh cases were registered against our workers. Is it not natural for the police to act when rules are broken?" asked Balakrishnan.
On October 17, the temple opened for the five-day monthly puja.
However, the protesters ensured that no women in the barred age group could enter sanctum sanctorum until October 22 when the gates closed.
The bishop secured the bail with strict conditions that he should not enter Kerala. He must also surrender his passport and should appear before the police once in every two weeks.
Mulakkal was arrested on September 21 after three days of questioning. On September 24, he was sent to two weeks judicial custody.
Mulakkal has been languishing in the Pala sub-jail since.
Earlier on October 3, the high court had denied the bishop bail as Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan observed that there was evidence against him.
Mulakkal, who heads the Roman Catholic Diocese in Jalandhar in Punjab, is the first bishop in the country to be jailed for rape.
The Kerala government has already diverted the Rs 30 crore earmarked for state-sponsored celebrations to extend relief to the survivors of the worst floods in the state in nearly a century.
Similarly, reports of cancellation of the Onam celebrations by Kerala expatriates have come from the Middle East and even Canada.
Around 370 persons have lost their lives since the monsoon rains began on May 29, with widespread destruction to public and private property, which the state has pegged at more than Rs 20,000 crore. More than one million people have taken shelter in relief camps in Kerala.
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, who was overseeing the Onam festivities, said that he too failed to recollect any instance when the celebrations were called off.
"This tragedy has damaged our state immensely as lakhs of people continue to suffer. Many people have lost their life-long savings... thus, the celebration of Onam by the state is out of the question."
Cardinal Moran Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, head of the city-headquartered Syro Malankara Catholic Church, told IANS that this could be the first Onam with no festivities in the state.
"Onam provides a sense of unity as everyone celebrates the festival. However, this time too there is 'unity' but it is about people coming out in huge numbers to help those affected by floods," he remarked.
Celebrations of Onam start on 'Atham' day, 10 days before 'Thiruvonam' (which falls on August 25). However, on that day, the state was grappling with torrential rains and their aftermath as a red alert was issued in several areas after dams overflowed and rivers were swollen.
Onam, the harvest festival, is marked by three important days -- First Onam that falls on Friday (today), followed by Thiruonam on Saturday, and third Onam on Sunday.
According to a legend, the state witnessed its golden period during the reign of King Mahabali. Onam is celebrated to mark King Mahabali's annual visit to see his subjects.
A traditional 26-dish 'Onam Sadya', often dubbed the 'mother of all vegetarian meals', is served in every household on the three Onam days.
Onam falls in the month of 'Chingam', the first month according to the Malayalee calendar. On that day (August 17), thousands of Kerala residents in several districts were fleeing their homes to find shelter in relief camps.
As many as 12 of the 14 districts in the state have been devastated by floods, with Kasargode and Thiruvananthapuram the exception on this count.
"I am 93... I cannot recall any year when the Onam festivities were called off. I also cannot recall any tragedy of this magnitude ever hitting Kerala in my lifetime," a retired teacher told IANS.
However, a few old-timers recall the Vypeen hooch tragedy in 1982, in which 77 persons were killed near Kochi on Onam day. The victims were mostly fisherfolk and labourers.
Sarala Devi, a retired government official residing near Thiruvalla, which was badly affected, also sounded gloomy over Onam celebrations this year.
"I don't think anyone will be able to savour a sumptuous Onam Sadya, as one or the other you know has been affected by floods. Besides, one has been witnessing on TV channels the huge loss of lives and destruction caused by floods. I doubt if anyone will be able to enjoy the Onam lunch after all this," she said.
The business of sellers of flowers in various places on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, has been clearly affected. "Even in the state capital, which has not been much affected by floods, people are not coming out to buy flowers," a retailer in the city pointed out.
However, amid the gloom, there are many trying to cheer up the survivors. Those managing the relief camps plan to serve at least a decent Onam lunch to nearly a million persons still lodged in relief camps.
According to the disaster control room sources, 10 people were killed in landslides in Idukki, five in Malappuram, two in Kannur and one in Wayanad district. Three persons are missing -- one each in Wayanad, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts.
Five members of a family lost their lives in Idukki's Adimali town. Two persons were pulled out alive from the debris by the local people and police.
Around 600 cusecs of water were discharged from the Idamalayar dam this morning, with the water level rising to 169.95 metres against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 169m. The water level at Idukki dam was 2,398 at 8 am, 50 feet against the FRL of 2,403 feet. The administration has been put on high-alert.
Due to heavy rains and resultant floods in Kozhikode and Waynad districts, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been moved to Kozhikode. Two teams have been sought from the Centre for north Kerala.
Educational institutions have declared a holiday in Idukki, Kollam and some other districts due to the rains.
The incident took place around 28 nautical miles from the shore on the high seas around 4 a.m., Kerala Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty said.
The ship's identification and more details are awaited, he said.
"We just have preliminary information and that three fishermen have been reported dead, while another eight fishermen in the boat who were saved are being brought to the shore.
"We are told that this accident occurred around 28 nautical miles from the shore. We have passed on the information to the Mumbai based Maritime Institute, who will be able to locate the ship," Mercykutty told the media.
The Indian boat named Oceanus had left the Munambam Port late on Monday for a fishing expedition in the high seas.
P.V. Sivan the owner of the boat told the media that details were awaited. Two of the rescued fishermen were being taken to a hospital, Sivan said.
According to police, a group of people who had come to take a bath in the river on Sunday found the body of Dinu Alex. Alex's relatives identified the body.
The body apparently floated some 30 km downstream from his house at Arumannoor.
Alex, a diehard Messi fan, was devastated after Argentina was thrashed by Croatia on June 21 0-3.
He was last seen by his mother watching the match on TV. She told him to go to bed as he had to go to work the next day.
But on Friday, his mother found the kitchen door wide open and Alex was missing.
A suicide note was recovered from the house in which Alex wrote: "I have no more interest in this world. I am proceeding towards death and none is responsible."
A police dog traced Alex's final journey to the river that was in spate.
Alex was unmarried and worked as an accountant in a private company here.
The Nipah virus itself can cause encephalitis - a dangerous swelling of the brain - and common symptoms vary from none to elevated fevers, cough, headache, shortness of breath and confusion, the Gulf News reported on Monday.
On May 29, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banned imports from Kerala.
UAE officials announced that 100 tonnes of fruit, vegetables and fresh produce that was to be imported from Kerala was prohibited from entry.
A UAE-based health provider, VPS Healthcare, sent a flight to the Kerala government carrying medical supplies that will help the fight against Nipah.
As of date, of the 18 positive cases, 16 have died and the remaining two are recovering well at a Kozhikode hospital while the around 2,000 people, who have reported to have come in contact with the affected, are being monitored.
With the academic year beginning in June, the rest of the schools will follow suit by then.
The initiative is a part of the government's Public Education Rejuvenation Mission and is being implemented by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), a government company.
A total of 34,500 classrooms have already been provided with laptops, multimedia projectors, projector ceiling mounting kits, USB speakers and screens besides high-speed broadband internet connectivity, said KITE Vice Chairman K. Anvar Sadath.
KITE has also started training over one lakh teachers to handle the various equipment.
"The southwest monsoon has made an onset over Kerala," IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.
Speaking to IANS, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, "Monsoon has arrived. There has been heavy to very heavy rainfall at several places over Kerala. There has also been a persistent increase in cloudiness and strong winds. This is in line with the predictions."
The state Met department has issued heavy rainfall warnings for Kerala. "Thunderstorm with lightning and wind speed reaching 40 kmph in gusts accompanied by moderate rainfall is very likely to occur at in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kasaragod and Kannur," it stated.
Mohapatra said that the incumbent weather condition in the coastal state met all criteria for arrival of monsoon such as strong wind speed, persistent cloudiness, and heavy rainfall.
The IMD earlier said that conditions were favourable for the onset of the monsoon over Kerala on June 1 due to the formation of Cyclone 'Nisarga' over Arabian Sea.
This was a revision of its earlier onset forecast of June 5. In 2015, it hit the coastal state on June 5; in 2016 it made an onset on June 8; it was May 30 in 2017; May 29 in 2018 and June 8 in 2019.
Monsoon rains are critical for farmers in India as the majority of the country's net-sown area does not have any form of irrigation. Farmers wait for the rains to begin for sowing of crops.
On April 15, Madhavan Rajeevan, Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary had forecast that monsoon rains this year are likely to be normal at 100 per cent with a model error of 5 per cent.
The weather bureau is slated to issue the second stage Long Range Forecast (LRF) for South-West Monsoon Season (June - September) rainfall later in the day.
The monsoon season from June to September accounts for 75 per cent of rainfall in the country.
(With Agency Inputs)
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The probe team are also checking if the killing last month was the work of illicit liquor brewers who do their job in the forests.
"KFD has zeroed in on the culprits and recorded the first arrest in the wild elephant death case," said the department in its official twitter handle. The Kerala Police and the KFD are conducting a joint probe into this unfortunate episode.
Speaking to IANS, Samuel Pachuau, the Wildlife Warden of the Silent Valley National Park, the original habitat of this pregnant elephant said the arrest has been made.
"More arrests are expected and the joint probe is going on very well. We are not ruling out anything and we are not just looking into the pineapple theory alone. We will respond at the appropriate time," said Pachuau.
According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan till Thursday three people were taken into custody.
The probe team is also looking into other aspects like the involvement of a team of illicit liquor brewers in the forests.
During the lockdown period, for over two months all liquor and toddy shops was closed and numerous cases were registered against people for illicit liquor brewing in the state.
Veteran elephant veterinarian Jacob Cheeran told IANS that the wash associated with illicit distilling is one of the all time favourite of all elephants.
"Elephants have a very powerful sense of smell, though their eyes are not that powerful. These animals love the wash and they are able to sense the smell in the air if there is any illicit distilling in the area.
"If they get it, then they go to that area. So many instances of elephants attacking the illicit distilling areas has taken place. They drink the wash as its flavour has a mixture of sweet and sour. The elephants also do get high after drinking this and run amok," said Cheeran.
The probe team is looking into this aspect also as the forest areas are a den for those involved in illicit distilling and wild elephants are their biggest enemy, as it comes and drinks the wash and chases away those doing this.
The Manarakadu police station on Wednesday registered a case in the gruesome incident.
According to veterinarians who carried out the autopsy of the dead 15-year-old pregnant elephant, she was fed a pineapple with firecrackers that burst inside her, leaving her in pain for days. She took refuge in a river until her death. The explosion inside her mouth had seriously injuring her upper and lower jaw and tongue. They surmise her killers must have first tried chasing her away as she stray into the agricultural land and forest area and then fed her the live explosives.
The injured elephant, according to forest officials, was first spotted by locals near a water source on May 23. Two days later an elephant expert after a medical assessment said things were bad for the animal.
On May 25, the elephant was found dead in slushy water.
A post-mortem conducted on the elephant two days later revealed that the elephant was two-month pregnant. Experts pointed out that this was the elephant's first pregnancy.
Meanwhile, an animal lover from Hyderabad has announced a reward of Rs two lakh to anyone providing information to the Kerala police leading to the arrest of the killers of a pregnant elephant in that state.
B. T. Srinivasan, a farmer, said he was shocked over the incident in which the elephant was reportedly fed a pineapple stuffed with crackers, resulting in the death of the pregnant elephant and the baby in its womb.
"I want to offer a reward of two lakh rupees from my personal savings to the person who gives information about the miscreants," said Srinivasan, who cultivates paddy in Medak district.
He said the persons who resorted to the beastly act should not go unpunished.
Srinivasan, who is also the general secretary of United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations, Greater Hyderabad, said the person providing information leading to the arrest of the culprits would get the reward after the conviction in the case.
(IANS)
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The Cyclonic storm is very likely to move west-north-westwards and cross Sri Lanka coast evening/night of December 2. It is very like to move nearly westwards thereafter and emerge into Comorin area on December 3 morning, IMD said in a statement.
It is very likely to intensify further into a Deep Depression during next 12 hours. It is also likely to intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 30, 2020
Warnings:
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls over south Tamil Nadu(Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai; south Kerala(Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzah) on December2-3. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over these regions between December 1 and 4th.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at Isolated places very likely over north Tamilnadu, Puducherry, Mahe & Kariakal and north Kerala during December2-3.
Heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south Coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 2 and 3.
Wind warning
Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail over central parts of South Bay of Bengal on November 30. It would gradually increase becoming 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal from December 1 night.
The wind speed will increase to 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over southwest Bay of Bengal, along & off Sri Lanka coast and 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph over Comorin Area, Gulf of Mannar and south Tamilnadu-Kerala coasts from December 2 forenoon for subsequent 24 hours.