Devotees and local residents were left deeply saddened after temples constructed on government land in the Mettupalayam area near Maduranthakam were demolished following a court directive. The temple administrator also ensured that the idols were safely taken into custody.

The sannidhis, dedicated to deities such as Saneeswaran, Easwaran, Amman, Ayyappan, and Vinayagar, had been maintained by 55-year-old Murugaiyan.

The legal dispute began when Raja, a social activist from Sothupakkam, filed a petition in the Madras High Court, claiming that the temples were unauthorized structures built on public land. About six months ago, the court directed the revenue department to take action and remove the encroachments.

Subsequently, officials from the Maduranthakam revenue department issued multiple notices to Murugaiyan, urging him to comply with the court’s order and clear the site.

In response, Murugaiyan voluntarily dismantled the temples during the night and ensured the idols were preserved safely. When devotees arrived the following day, they were heartbroken to find the temples no longer standing and left the site in sorrow.

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

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The post Court-Ordered Demolition Of Maduranthakam Saneeswaran Temple Leaves Devotees In Tears appeared first on The Commune.

The incident occurred at Pudupattu Middle School, where over 100 students are enrolled. On 16 July 2025 afternoon, a group of sixth-grade students was studying in the veranda area when a portion of the concrete roof suddenly collapsed. The accident resulted in serious injuries to five students Rakshit, Gokul, Gopika, Thenmozhi, and Vaishali.

Teachers on site rushed to rescue the children and immediately took them to the Madurantakam Government Hospital for treatment.

The building in question was a newly constructed block with two classrooms, built at a cost of ₹33 lakh under the Rural Development and Panchayat Department’s Child-Friendly School Infrastructure Development Scheme for the 2024–25 academic year. It had only been in use since April, making the collapse within just three months particularly alarming.

Distressed parents have voiced strong concerns, blaming the accident on poor construction quality. They demanded a thorough re-inspection of the building before allowing students back inside. “This structure was clearly built with substandard materials. The contractor’s license must be revoked, and the quality of other buildings constructed by him should also be reviewed,” said one parent. They urged the district administration to intervene, emphasizing that it is becoming increasingly unsafe to send children to school. “The collector must take urgent steps to protect our children’s safety and future,” they added.

This is not the first time that ceiling collapses have been seen in government schools. Over the past year, newly renovated classrooms saw such a collapse, perimeter walls collapsed, leaving students injured, under the Dravidian model of governance.

(With Inputs From Dinamalar)

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The post Dravidian Model: Ceiling Collapse At Government School Injures 5 Students, Sparks Outrage In Chengalpattu District appeared first on The Commune.