Top storyHead constable S. Swapna, serving at Bellampalli 1 Town police station, has been promoted as assistant sub-inspector and transferred to Tandur police station. A farewell function was held for her at the station under SHO K. Srinivasa Rao. Officers and staff honoured her with a shawl and garland, praised her service and wished her higher positions in future. Staff congratulated Swapna, of the 2009 batch, on her promotion. SI D. Ramakrishna Rao, ASIs, head constables and constables attended.
Birthday celebrations for Devansh, grandson of Kurnool district YSRCP ST Cell secretary Chenchu Venkataswamy, were held at the family residence in Kalluru. YSRCP Nandyal district president and former Panyam MLA Katasani Ramabhupal Reddy attended as chief guest and blessed the child, wishing him good health and happiness, and spoke with family members. Kalluru Urban former corporators Maitapu Narasimhulu (33rd ward), Sana Srinivasulu (32nd ward) and Narayana Reddy (28th ward), along with YSRCP leaders and workers, took part.
People wishing to serve devotees at Tirumala as Srivari Sevaks must book online in advance through the TTD website ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in. Applicants aged 18 to 60 get a week-long service slot, and those who have served once are given another chance after 90 days. The quota is released online between the 26th and 28th of each month. Sevaks work at 39 locations, stay free at the Rs 120-crore Srivari Seva Sadan, and get darshan and a laddu on the final day. So far 16 lakh sevaks have been trained.
All India Human Rights members visited Jagananna Colony in the Kalvakatta area of Porumamilla, YSR Kadapa district, and heard residents' grievances. Residents said 70 to 80 houses were sanctioned but only 12 families live there now. They alleged some people from adjoining Rajiv Nagar turn the valve, cutting their water supply, and that repeated complaints to the panchayat secretary went unresolved. Without street lights, they face scorpions and snakes at night. State secretary Phani Rao, K. Praveen Babu and Srinu sought drinking water and street lights, warning of a collectorate complaint.
On the Peddapalli district forest officer's orders, forest staff of the Manthani and Peddapalli ranges, with Mutharam police, carried out a cordon and search operation on Wednesday at Adivishrampur village in Mutharam mandal. They seized 2 hunting nets, 20 snares, 1 iron cage and 2 kg of binding wire. FRO M.V. Nayak warned that illegal tree felling and hunting of wildlife are punishable offences. Awareness programmes followed at Daryapur model school and Manthani government degree college.
Residents in towns across Kakinada district say vacant plots left unused for years collect rainwater and grow weeds, becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes and shelter for snakes. About 3,000 vacant plots have been identified in Kakinada, but taxes are paid on only 1,735, yielding Rs 5 crore in revenue. Gollaprolu has 326 plots, Pithapuram 1,727 and Gandepalli 150. Tuni has 1,750 private and 40 government plots. Officials said notices cannot be served as some owners are untraceable.
A review meeting was held at Sai Baba Function Hall in Narayankhed constituency, chaired by MLA Dr Patlolla Sanjeeva Reddy, as part of the Praja Palana–Pragathi Pranalika programme. He directed officials and public representatives to work in coordination so that government schemes reach people transparently, and to resolve public grievances quickly. Infrastructure facilities, pending development works and the progress of Praja Palana applications were reviewed. Sub-Collector Uma Harathi, officials of various departments and sarpanches attended.
A large python entered a house in Yadagiripalli of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. Locals said the snake was first seen on the road from Yadagiripalli to Mylargudem and later slipped into the house of Rachakonda Raju on the colony outskirts. A neighbour who noticed it alerted Raju's family. Family members and residents were alarmed as the python appeared near the house at night. Forest officials and a snake catcher caught the 9-to-12-foot python and released it in a forest. Residents were asked to report snakes without harming them.
Weldi Hari Prasad, a weaver from the Rajanna Sircilla district headquarters, has woven a special shawl carrying portraits of Dubai royal family members in thread on a traditional loom. The portraits of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed took about 15 days of work. It will be displayed at the ETCA Bathukamma celebrations in Dubai on the 11th of this month and then presented to the royal family under ETCA representative Pichara Kiran Kumar.
A special dry waste collection drive was held through the Swachh Ratham at Chittathuru panchayat in Thottambedu mandal, Tirupati district, as part of a month-long house-to-house cleanliness awareness programme. Village development officer Shanthi said the state government had launched a new scheme called the Dasara Dhamaka Offer. Families handing over more than 3 kg of dry waste receive a lucky token, and a draw on Dasara day, October 26, will give prizes to three winners. She said separating recyclables could earn households income.
The movement of a leopard has caused alarm in Palsi village of Kubeer mandal in Nirmal district. On Tuesday, farmer Tavuti Ramulu spotted animal pugmarks in his agricultural field and immediately informed forest department officials. Officials Shivakumar and Shivaprasad reached the spot, inspected the marks and confirmed they were leopard pugmarks. Panic has since spread in the village. Officials advised farmers and residents to stay alert and not to enter fields alone.
Dalit and tribal women staged a protest by climbing a water tank at Antlapalem village under K. Naidupalem panchayat in Rolugunta mandal of Anakapalli district. They said fluoride-affected groundwater was causing joint pains and other chronic ailments. The village has about 200 families, including 40 SC and ST families with 150 people in a separate colony. Residents said a 20,000-litre tank was built three years ago with Rs 22 lakh, and demanded Varaha river water at Janakirampuram be linked to it. They appealed to the Deputy Chief Minister.
The Journalist Association of Andhra Pradesh (JAP) held the executive meeting of its Tirupati and Chittoor district units on Tuesday at the JAP office near the old checkpost in Renigunta. State president Raviteja and state secretary Lakshmipathi took part and discussed union activities, journalists' problems and future action. They said the association works continuously for journalists' welfare and resolution of professional issues. Rights, welfare schemes, accreditation and safety were also discussed. Tirupati district president Prabhakar and Chittoor district president John attended.
Kodad MLA Padmavathi Reddy on Tuesday inspected arrangements for the foundation stone laying programme of a modern centralised kitchen to be built at Rs 9.60 crore at SM Peta in Munagala mandal of Kodad constituency, Suryapet district. She discussed with local leaders the steps needed to conduct the programme successfully. The MLA also reviewed the progress of the kitchen construction works. Local leaders and senior Congress party leaders participated in the programme.
The CITU Drivers Union has demanded immediate resolution of problems faced by drivers, vehicle owners and farmers in the transport department's online services, submitting a petition to Tirupati district transport officials. District general secretary Kanjeri Selvaraju said technical glitches affect licence renewal, heavy vehicle IIR, name transfer, hypothecation cancellation, HSRP QR codes, conductor licence renewal and tractor-trailer FC. The union sought a special helpdesk in every RTO office.
An Anganwadi felicitation programme was held at Siddhipuram village in Sangam mandal of Nellore district under the leadership of BJP-TDP alliance leaders. Organised as per BJP state unit directions, the event honoured Anganwadi staff CH. Lakshmamma, Subhashini, P. Subbalakshmi and Amulya with shawls. Leaders said the aim was to recognise staff who provide children with education along with nutrition and primary care services. BJP leaders Manohar Reddy, Narendra Yadav, TDP leader Sura Srinivasulu Reddy and Sura Krishna Reddy attended.
The Devi Sharannavaratri festival will be held at the Srisailam Sribhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple from the 11th to the 20th of this month, temple authorities said. Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy, trust board member Ramesh Naidu, EO Srinivasa Rao, priests, Vedic scholars and officials invited Chief Minister Chandrababu to attend. The invitation card was handed over at the MLA's camp office. Officials presented the CM a portrait of the deities and prasadam, and priests offered Vedic blessings. The CM enquired about Brahmotsavam arrangements.
A Varuna Yagam was conducted at the Sri Swayambhu Karyasiddhi Vigneswara temple in Chodavaram, praying for adequate rainfall. The ritual, led by MLA K.S.N. Raju, was attended by Vedic scholars, public representatives and devotees. Priests stood in water and recited Varuna hymns hundreds of times before the yagam began, after which the MLA offered purnahuti. Organisers said the event followed farmers' distress over delayed rains and drying crops this year.
An "Angan Ka Utsav" programme was held at the Municipal Urdu upper primary school in Lonikota, 13th ward of Dharmavaram in Sri Sathya Sai district. Organised on the instructions of Health Minister Satya Kumar, it saw BJP in-charge Harish Babu and Mahila Morcha district president Jagga Nagarathnamma attend as chief guests and felicitate anganwadi workers, helpers and ASHA workers. They said about 9 crore beneficiaries are served through 14 lakh anganwadi centres nationwide, and 1.5 lakh centres are being developed as "Saksham Anganwadi" centres.
A bakery set up near Paibata in Kuppam town of Chittoor district was gutted by fire. The blaze broke out after midnight on Monday due to an electrical circuit fault, and the material inside the bakery was completely burnt. As no one was present at the premises at the time, a major mishap was averted. The affected persons said property loss of over Rs 25 lakh had been caused.
