Around 500 passengers on Monday were stuck at the Srivaikuntam railway station in the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu after heavy rain battered the southern parts of the state.

The station is surrounded by water on all sides and the trains can’t move as the tracks are damaged.

Due to soil erosion, the ballast over which railway tracks were fixed was washed away in Srivaikuntam and iron tracks with only supporting cement slabs were seen dangling precariously.

The rescue work has been suspended as the road to the station has been cut off. The train was going from Thiruchendur to Chennai.

“The passengers are safe. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is trying to reach the station. Efforts are underway to airdrop food,” Guhanesan, Chief PRO, Southern Railways, told NDTV.

Though there is respite from rain in some areas, release of surplus water from dams continued, which led to water-logging.

Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his appointment on December 19 to discuss rain and the flood situation in southern parts of the state.

Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Tirunelveli are the four southern districts hit by the very heavy rainfall.

Kayalpattinam in Tuticorin received 95 cm rain in 24 hours.

With River Thamaraparani running in spate with release of waters from Papanasam dam, waters have entered homes in several low lying pockets of Tuticorin and Tirunelveli.

More than 7,000 people have been evacuated in these four districts.

Merry Christmas is one of the most anticipated upcoming films. Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the thriller film features Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi. After a few delays, the trailer release date is out.

The trailer for Merry Christmas will release on December 20, 2023. 

So far, the makers of the film have revealed two intriguing, retro posters. One poster saw Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi looking intense on the backdrop of Mumbai with a bird cage in the forefront.

Another poster was unveiled when the film’s new release date was announced. The film was pushed for a January 2024 release. The poster saw Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi with crime scene tape around them. 

Details about Merry Christmas are being kept tightly under wraps. Sriram Raghavan recently revealed that the film is adapted from a book. While he didn’t reveal the title, he mentioned that he has retained the source text’s essence.

Merry Christmas will arrive in cinemas on January 12, 2024.

At least 78 Opposition MPs have been suspended from both houses of parliament after they staged a protest inside the chamber, demanding a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the massive breach in Parliament security last week.

Hours after 33 members were suspended from Lok Sabha for “misconduct” for the remainder of winter session, 45 members from opposition, including Congress’ Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala and KC Venugopal, were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remaining period of the session which concludes on December 22.

While 34 members were suspended for the remaining part of the session, the “misconduct” of 11 others was also referred to the Privileges Committee, which has been asked to give its report in three months. They have been suspended until the report is submitted by the panel.

News agency ANI has shared the complete list of the names of suspended MPs. 

Winter Session | A total of 33 Opposition MPs, including Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, suspended from the Parliament today for the remainder of the Session. pic.twitter.com/zbUpeMaHmU

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023

Speaking to the media, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is among those suspended, said the government was behaving in a dictatorial manner and treating Parliament as BJP headquarters.

The matter of suspension of the following 11 Rajya Sabha MPs referred to the Privilege Committee. pic.twitter.com/M3NHnPKJ3R

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in post on ‘X’ earlier in the day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken on the issue outside the Parliament when the winter session is underway.

“The Prime Minister speaks to a leading newspaper on the very serious December 13th security breach in the Lok Sabha. The Home Minister speaks to a TV channel on the security breach. Parliament is in session. INDIA parties are demanding a statement from the Home Minister in both Houses on the shocking incidents. It is a simple, straightforward and legitimate demand. But Home Minister refuses to make a statement which is his duty and responsibility. This is why Parliament is getting adjourned repeatedly,” Jairam Ramesh said.

Fourteen MPs had been suspended last week, also for demanding a statement on the security breach. So, this takes the total number of MPs suspended in this session to 92.