TV cameraman dies in Nellai mishap; Guv, CM condole

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday condoled the demise of Tamil news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai’s TV cameraman in a road accident in the southern district of Tirunelveli.

The Chief Minister announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh for his family. Shankar, 33, working for the Tamil news channel, died in a road accident near the Nanguneri toll plaza on August 23 while returning to Tirunelveli from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala where he was reporting on Chandrayaan-3. Three others who travelled with him sustained injuries.

Governor Ravi expressed shock over the tragic death of the young video journalist and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Chief Minister Stalin said: “I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the demise of the private television cameraman Shankar, 33, of Araikulam near Munnirpallam, Tirunelveli district, in a road accident near the Nanguneri toll plaza, on Wednesday night.”

He conveyed his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Shankar, who died at a young age and announced a relief of Rs 5 lakh to be provided to his kin from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. He announced Rs 50,000 each for the injured persons. Shankar is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old son.

“I am deeply saddened to hear that Puthiya Thalaimurai TV cameraman Shankar died in a road accident. My condolences to his bereaved family and friends,” BJP state chief K Annamalai.

AIADMK general secretary K Palaniswami, former chief minister O Panneerselvam and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan, too, condoled Shankar’s demise. All India Samathuva Makhal Katchi founder president R Sarathkumar urged the State government to extend a solatium of Rs 25 lakh to the bereaved family of the victim.