By Umaima Shafiq/Gulf Times Correspondent

Plumbers and mechanics in great demand after floods
Plumbers, mechanics and cleaning services were in high demand after waters receded in many areas of Chennai last week.
Mechanics had a busy time repairing water-logged cars, bikes and other vehicles. They earned a good income as customers were willing to pay double for quick service. Some vehicle owners preferred the service stations instead of the after-sales workshops at their authorised dealer showrooms because of insurance formalities and high costs.
Plumbers and cleaning services were called in to unclog pipes, taps and drains and pump out water from homes, offices and colonies. Many customers grumbled about their exorbitant rates and busy schedules. Some cleaners also complained that shopkeepers acted as middlemen and got commissions just to point out jobs.
M Arumugam, a tailor in Nungambakkam, who is the contact person for plumbers and cleaners in Lake Area, Pushpa Nagar and Susaipuram, said: “It’s a hard job and the stench is unbearable since rain water has mixed with sewerage water. We charge Rs2,500 to Rs3,000.”

Doctor’s timely alert averts train accident
A doctor’s timely alert on Facebook page of the Salem Railway Division prevented a major train accident near Vaniyambadi about 200km from Salem last week.
Dr Jacob John was travelling on a Chennai-bound train that stopped for a signal outside Vaniyambadi. He heard a loud sound when another train moved on the opposite track and got down to inspect the tracks. He found a crack with a fish plate missing that had dislocated the tracks. He photographed it on his smartphone and put an alert on Facebook giving its exact location using GPS maps.
The railways responded immediately rushing a team to repair the tracks that could have caused derailment and huge loss.
 
Sahitya Akademi award for Tamil writer aged 82
Tamil writer A Madhavan, 82, has won this year’s national Sahitya Akademi award for his collection of essays Illakiya Chuvadukal.
Madhavan was born in Kanyakumari district, but his parents soon moved to Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. He dropped out of school and set up a provision shop at Chalai Street in the city.
His stories were mostly based on the people of that street. In five decades he has published numerous short stories, essays and books. His stories skilfully unmask the evil behind ordinary persons and are full of satire and wit.
He is also renowned in Malayalam literature having contemporaries like Vaikom Mohamed Basheer, Dev and Sivasankaran Pillai (Thakazhi).

Nagore shrine elephant dies
A 46-year-old elephant belonging to a renowned Muslim shrine in Nagore died in coastal Nagapattinam district last week.
The pachyderm called Fathima Beevi was gifted to the shrine by a devotee from Cuddalore in 1986. Since then it had taken part in all the festivities of the shrine and nearby temples. However it fell ill recently and its condition deteriorated due to continuous rains. The local Animal Husbandry department performed a post mortem and the shrine management committee gave it a grand burial attended by many devotees.
The Nagore shrine is the cemetery of Muslim Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed (1490-1579) and his descendants and has hundreds of visitors every day.