Chief Educational Officer Sivakumar with the children who were honoured with a helicopter ride on Friday in Palayamkottai. | Photo Credit: SHAIKMOHIDEEN A Six government school students, including four girls, who excelled in sports in the State and national-level meets, received unforgettable Deepavali gift from District Collector Anand Mohan on Friday for making the district proud.When district-level sports events for school students were organised a few months ago by the district administration as part of ‘Drug-free Nellai’ initiative, the best-performing students were nominated for State-level and even national-level competitions.Siblings Joel and Joshua of Government Higher Secondary School, Maanur, and Anuksha and Surakshana of Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Maanur, won medals in national-level tennikoit tournament while students Atharva Ponraj and Sreemathi of Corporation Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Meenakshipuram, won medals in the State-level swimming competition.To honour these winners, Mr. Anand Mohan arranged helicopter ride for them on Friday as a private realtor has stationed a chopper at Muthur on Palayamkottai outskirts to give flying experience to his customers buying housing plots from him.Accompanied by Chief Educational Officer Sivakumar, the children arrived at the helipad and were taken on for a ride. “We’re thrilled,” said the children after briefly hovering over Palayamkottai.
Published - November 06, 2026 08:49 pm IST