The year 2023 has been a mixed bag for 'Kerala' as a whole. There were joyous moments and unfortunate incidents as well. The state treaded through its ups and downs in hope of better times. As curtains come down, let's wish for a more positive, vibarant and rewarding 2024. Together, let's sail ahead of the sorrows and miseries affecting our lives.  

January: Dhoni caught 

The lone elephant known as Palakkad Tusker 7th (PT7), which had been roaming in the Mundur area of Palakkad district, was successfully captured. Led by Forest Chief Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Arun Zachariah, a rapid response team from Wayanad managed to capture the elephant by administering tranquilizers. Following its capture, the caged elephant was named 'Dhoni' by Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran.

March- The victory of Devikulam MLA A. Raja was annulled

On March 20, the High Court invalidated the victory of Devikulam MLA A. Raja, citing the submission of a forged caste certificate. D. Kumar, the opposing candidate of the UDF, filed a petition against Raja, asserting that as a Christian, Raja was ineligible to contest in a constituency designated for Scheduled Castes. Raja defended his candidacy by claiming to be a member in the Hindu Paraiyan community. The court's decision, governed by The Representation of the People Act, was based on evidence that Raja had converted to Christianity long ago and presently adheres to that faith.

March- Fire at Brahmapuram waste treatment plant

The fire that broke out at the Brahmapuram waste plant on March 2 caused widespread toxic fumes that enveloped Kochi and its neighboring areas for several days. Containing the smoke required extensive efforts, engaging 23 fire units, 32 excavator JCBs, and three high-pressure pumps. Firefighters, excavator operators, Navy personnel, employees of SIAL and BPCL, Civil Defense members, Kochi Corporation employees, and home guards were all part of the collaborative operation to extinguish the fire.

April - Elathur train fire

On the night of April 2nd, a suspect poured petrol on passengers aboard the Executive Express, which was en route from Alappuzha to Kannur, and set them on fire. Tragically, three individuals, including a two-year-old girl, lost their lives, while eight passengers sustained burn injuries. Following an investigation, the perpetrator was apprehended by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Ratnagiri and subsequently handed over to the Kerala Police.

April - Verdict in the Attapadi Madhu murder case

On April 5, the Mannarkkad Special Court for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe cases delivered a verdict, finding 14 defendants guilty in the Attapadi Madhu murder case. Out of the 14, 13 received a sentence of seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of one lakh rupees each. Madhu, a tribal man hailing from Chindakki hamlet in Attappady, Palakkad, was brutally killed after being apprehended, tied up, and assaulted by a group of locals who accused him of stealing food items from a grocery shop on February 22, 2018. The mob assault resulted in Madhu's tragic death.

April- Vande Bharat started operation in Kerala

The Prime Minister inaugurated Kerala's inaugural Vande Bharat Express. This high-speed train journeyed from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, marking a significant milestone in Kerala's railway system with its exceptional speed.

April-Country's first water metro

On April 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kochi Water Metro, the country's first water metro system, as a subsidiary project of the Kochi Metro. This system aims to connect the islands of Kochi to the mainland.

April-Arikomban captured

The Kerala Wildlife Department has successfully captured a wild elephant named Arikomban in Chinnakanal on April 29. Subsequently, Arikomban was relocated from Chinnakanal to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

May- Tanur boat tragedy

Twenty-two people lost their lives when the 'Atlantic' boat sank off the coast of Poorappuzha, near the Malappuram Tanur Thooval coast. The double-decker boat was carrying passengers on both decks. As it approached within 300 meters of the shore, the boat tilted to the right and capsized. Of the 37 people on board, ten were rescued, while five managed to swim away after the accident. It's suspected that the boat exceeded its capacity due to an excess of tourists, leading to the tragic incident.

May - Murder of Dr. Vandana Das

Dr. Vandana Das, a student at Azeezia Medical College in Kollam, tragically lost her life while on duty at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital. The accused, who was brought to the hospital by the police for treatment on May 10, fatally stabbed the doctor. This marks the first instance in Kerala where a doctor has been killed while performing their duty.

June - Kerala Fiber Optic Network (KFON) started operation

This project was a visionary initiative by the Kerala government with the primary goal of providing internet access to all segments of the population throughout the state. Implemented in collaboration between KSEB and KSITIL, the initiative aims to offer connectivity for 75 lakh individuals. Moreover, 20 lakh economically disadvantaged people will receive free internet connections as part of this endeavor.

July- Oommen Chandy passes away

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy passed away at the age of 79 while undergoing treatment at Chinmaya Mission Hospital in Bengaluru on July 18. He had been battling cancer and was receiving treatment for an extended period. Oommen Chandy, who initially entered parliamentary politics by contesting the Assembly elections in Puthupally on September 17, 1970, began his political journey as the President of the Youth Congress. Renowned for his grassroots connections, Oommen Chandy's political career reached great heights owing to his popularity among the people. He also held the distinction of being the longest-serving member of the assembly in Kerala.

July- Aluva murder 

This incident was a tragedy involving the abduction, killing of a five-year-old girl from Bihar. The accused, Asafak Alam, a native of Bihar, was apprehended the day after the incident. The police filed the charge sheet 35 days after the crime. Following a swift 15-day trial, the court handed down the death sentence to the accused on Children's Day, marking the 100th day since the crime occurred. The girl who was abducted from Aluva on July was raped before she was killed.

September- Chandy Oommen wins Puthupally

Puthupally, a constituency that revered Oommen Chandy for 53 years, elected his son, Chandy Oommen as his successor. The victory of Chandy Oommen was anticipated by the UDF camp even before the election results were declared. The question lingered on the margin of victory. The final result not only answered this query but also delivered a significant mandate—a resounding victory with over 37,000 votes. Chandy Oommen secured approximately 28,000 more votes than his father did previously, emphatically declaring himself as the worthy heir to Oommen Chandy's legacy in Puthupally.

September-Nipah alert issued in state

The deadly Nipah virus had made its way back to the state with two deaths being reported in Kozhikode district-the hotbed of the disesae in Kerala. A commendable job by the health department of the state under the leadership of minister Veena George helped in avoiding further casualities and and also in containing the disesaes within a month of the outbreak by carefulley executed measures. 

October- First ship at Vizhinjam

On October 13, the inaugural ship docked at Vizhinjam International Port, set to become India's first transshipment port. The arrival of the Chinese ship, Shenhua 15, marked this milestone. Once fully operational, Vizhinjam is poised to play a pivotal role in national freight transportation. The management responsibilities lie with the Adani Group.

October- Kalamasery blast

Eight individuals lost their lives, and 52 others sustained injuries in a blast at the Kalamassery Convention Center on October 9. The explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m. during a Jehovah's Witnesses Convention, within five minutes of the prayer session. Dominic Martin, the sole suspect in the case, surrendered himself at the police station and is currently in custody. He's the only individual charged by the police. While reports suggest internal issues among Jehovah's Witnesses as a potential cause for the blast, specific details remain unclear.

November- UNESCO names Kozhikode the 'City of Literature'

Kozhikode has been honored with the prestigious title of UNESCO City of Literature, marking the first instance of an Indian city receiving this recognition. The selection of Kozhikode was based on its rich literary heritage, vibrant reading spaces, active publishing industry, and engaging literary festivals. UNESCO has conferred this title upon Kozhikode for a four-year period. Every four years, UNESCO representatives will conduct assessments to evaluate the city's literary status. Failure to meet their established standards may result in the revocation of the city's literary designation.

November - Nava Kerala Sadas

The Nava Kerala Sadas commenced on November 18 in Kasaragod district. Led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers, officials, and the Chief Secretary visited 140 assembly constituencies to address public grievances. The program concluded on December 23 in Thiruvananthapuram, despite encountering political controversies and protests along the way. 

November - CUSAT tragedy

During a musical program held as part of Techfest on the 25th at the Kalamassery Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) campus, a tragic accident claimed the lives of four students. The incident happened on November 26 evening. The victims were second-semester students of the School of Engineering: Athul Thambi, Ann Rifta, Sarah Thomas, and Alwin Joseph.

November- Kerala in search of a six-year-old girl from Oyoor

On November 27, around 4:20 pm, a six-year-old girl was abducted from Kollam Oyoor Katadi in a car. The girl's nine-year-old brother attempted to intervene, but the individuals in the car drove away with the girl. Following the news of the incident, an extensive search was launched to locate the child. The next day at noon, the six-year-old girl was found abandoned in Asramam Maidanam in Kollam district. Subsequent police investigation revealed that Padmakumar, a resident of Chathannoor, and his family were involved in the abduction. The police arrested Padmakumar, his wife Anitha Kumari, and daughter Anupama.

December - New ministers 


The State Cabinet underwent reorganization with K.B. Ganesh Kumar and Kadannappalli Ramachandran taking oath as new ministers on December 29. Kadannappalli Ramachandran will oversee the Registration and Archaeology Departments, while K.B. Ganesh Kumar will manage the Transport, Motor Vehicles, and Water Transport Departments.

Hence yet another eventful year pass by.