Cyclone Thane crosses Tamil Nadu coast, 18 dead; leaves Andhra unscathed

Severe cyclonic storm 'Thane' today claimed 18 lives as it hit the Tamil Nadu coast, leaving a trail of destruction and throwing life out of gear in Cuddalore district and neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry. Cuddalore, about 170 km from here on the east coast, bore the brunt of the cylocnic fury, accounting for nine deaths, Puducherry seven and Chennai two in rain-related incidents such as wall collapse and electrocution, officials said.

'Thane' crossed the coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry bringing in its wake torrential rains accompanied by gale that uprooted hundreds of trees and electric poles, snapping power supply in several areas. The tiny Puducherry was cut off from neighbouring districts in Tamil Nadu with the uprooted trees blocking road traffic.

After the landfall, Thane moved further westward and weakened rapidly into a deep depression and lay centered at about 100 km west of Cuddalore, the regional weather office here said. "The system is likely to move westwards and weaken further," it said forecasting heavy rainfall for the next 12-24 hours in different parts of the state and Puducherry and advised fishermen against venturing into sea due to rough conditions.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa sanctioned a sum of Rs 150 crore towards immediate relief works including putting back in shape the infrastructure which has taken a hit and directing four of her cabinet colleagues to visit affected districts to oversee relief work.

'Thane' leaves Andhra Pradesh coast unscathed

After keeping everyone in Andhra Pradesh on toes for the last two days, Cyclone Thane subsided this evening. Only two tehsils in the coastal Nellore district received 9.8 cm of rain, while 174 other tehsils received moderate rains, state Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said.

Briefing reporters after a review meeting this evening, Raghuveera said the sea had calmed and no damage to property or casualties had been reported. "By God's grace, there is no loss of life or property anywhere. Everything is returning to normal," he said.

However, all relief teams, including the National Disaster Response Force, have been asked to remain on alert for another day and fishermen too have been advised not to venture into the sea for one more day.

Dev Anand no more, cremation in London

Dev Anand, the 'Evergreen Romantic Superstar' of Indian cinema, has passed away. He died on Sunday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest in London. He was 88.

Bollywood’s eternal romantic Dev Anand modeled himself on Hollywood star Gregory Peck. 

World's first sex school opens in Austria

While many people may think it's an activity which should be best learned behind closed doors, an enterprising Swedish schoolmistress thinks otherwise.
Ylva-Maria Thompson has opened the world's first international sex school for teaching the art of being better lovers, the Daily Mail reported.
The Austrian International Sex School in Vienna offers 'hands on' lessons in seduction for 1,400 pounds a term. The 'headmistress' says anyone over the age of 16 can enrol at 'the world's first college of applied sexuality'.
Students of the course are expected to stay in a co-ed dormitory block where they're expected to practice their 'homework'. By the end of their course, they are awarded a qualification.
The school head said: 'Our core education is not theoretical, but very practical. The emphasis is on how to be a better lover.
'Sexual positions, caressing techniques, anatomical features. And we teach people hands on.'
School's spokesperson Melodi Kirsch exuded confidence that the school would be a great success.
The school, however, has already turned controversial in Austria with it raunchy advertisments showing a couple making love having already invited ban by Austrian TV.

Pakistan bag kabaddi gold at South Asian Beach Games

Pakistan clinched their first gold medal at the South Asian Beach Games after beating India 42-33 in the kabaddi final.