Fears of a major crisis grips Shivamogga as Sharavathi runs dry

TNN

May 31, 2019

Shivamogga, May 31: The situation in the once rain-rich regions of Karnataka is growing more alarming with each passing day.

While Dakshina Kannada has been forced to resort to water rationing, the situation appears to be equally grim in the Malnad Region. The River Sharavathi, the lifeline of Shivamogga, is running dry, igniting fears of a large-scale water crisis in the district. Data from the Karnataka Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) gives one a glimpse of the bleak future in store for Shivamogga if the rain fails: Inflow to the Linganamakki Dam has plummeted to zero. The sight of the parched river in Hosanagara, and other towns and villages in Shivamogga, has triggered panic among the locals.

The drying of the basins of the Sharavathi come close on the heels of the Tunga River running thin in many regions of Shivamogga. Residents in Hosanagara opined that the lack of pre-monsoon showers had aggravated the condition in the district.

Hosanagara resident Ravi Bidanur pointed out that rain had played truant even in Hulikal Ghat in the taluk, where rainfall is among the highest in the state. “The river flows through Hulikal village. But, depletion of groundwater reserves has resulted in the streams running dry,” said Bidanur.

Unable to keep the edge of panic out of his voice, Bidanur said, “Hosanagara received copious pre-monsoon rain every year. But, there is no sign of rain anytime soon. If this situation continues, we will be left grappling a major water crisis.”

KSNDMC data indicates that Hosanagara hobli registered 97% deficit rainfall in the month of May. Against an expected 110.1mm rainfall, Hosanagara has received a paltry 3.8mm rain in May.

Ajay Kumar Sharma, an environmental activist, said that the whole of Malnad Region was battling drought. “This is a result of climate change. Where are the forests in Malnad? They are being eaten away every year. And we are paying the price of destroying nature,” Sharma said.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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Think Before You Post! Mangaluru Police Crack Down on Provocative Instagram Accounts

News Network

December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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