Madurai: Police parades, unfurling of national flag, distribution of welfare assistance, and cultural programmes marked Independence Day celebrations organised by prominent institutions in Madurai.District collector Nishant Krishna hoisted the national flag at Armed Reserve ground. Accompanied by superintendent of police N Devanathan, he accepted the guard of honour from police, fire & rescue services personnel and home guards. Freedom fighters and their relatives were honoured with shawls. Welfare assistance worth Rs48.62 lakh was distributed to 37 beneficiaries. He then felicitated 230 people with certificates and shields for their service in various govt departments and for social work.More than 900 students from eight schools performed cultural programmes. South zone IG Vijayendra Bidari, city commissioner of police S Rajendiran and other senior officials were present. Later, the collector participated in the grama sabha meeting at S Puliangulam village in Thiruparankundram.At the Madurai corporation celebrations held at Aringar Anna Maligai, deputy mayor T Nagarajan hoisted the national flag in the presence of commissioner Gaurav Kumar. He presented medals to 13 corporation schools that secured the first three ranks in Class X and Class XII public examinations. He also presented medals to rank holders and those who secured centums in subjects besides two students who got medical admissions under the 7.5% quota. A total of 30 sanitary workers as well as doctors and health officials who worked in sanitation were given appreciation certificates.At the Madurai bench of Madras high court, Justice C V Karthikeyan garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the court building. After the state song, Tamil Thai Vazhthu, and national song Vande Mataram were sung, Justice Karthikeyan hoisted the national flag and the national anthem was played. Justice Karthikeyan inspected a guard of honour presented by CISF personnel. Principal district judge M Sai Saravanan hoisted the national flag on district court campus.VO Chidambaranar Port Authority chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit hoisted the national flag at the port in Thoothukudi, and also inspected the parade and took the salute from CISF contingent, Port Fire Service, and NCC students of the port schools. He said the port handled 14.73 million tonnes of cargo and 2.95 lakh TEUs up to July 2026 during the 2026- 27 financial year. He then highlighted key infrastructure projects, including multi cargo berth No. 10, development of berth No. 7 as the port’s third container terminal, and widening of the entrance channel.
