Fliers unleash anger at indifferent AIE as snag delays Dammam-Mangalore flight by 50 hours

[email protected] (CD Network)
October 21, 2014

Mangalore, Oct 21: Around 180 Air India Express passengers from Mangalore and Kerala who had stranded at Saudi Arabia's Dammam International Airport, following abrupt cancellation of an aircraft on Saturday, finally reached their destinations on Tuesday morning.

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Dozens of Mangalorean passengers on board the plane, who were supposed to land at Mangalore International Airport at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, reached their destination at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Angry passengers have complained of having a harrowing time at the Dammam Airport without proper facilities as the India's national carrier had failed to inform the passengers as of when the flight would take off.

œWe can understand that the cancellation of flight was unavoidable as the safety of passengers is very important. But it is the duty of airlines to inform the passengers in advance and treat them with dignity,  said Abdul Razzak, one of the Mangalorean passengers.

Another passenger said that after the abrupt cancellation of the flight due to a major technical glitch, the passengers were left in lurch as there was no one to listen to their woes for hours.

œWe had to starve without food and water at the Airport. Finally officials took us to Golden Tulip hotel at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday and we spent next 24 hours in the same hotel. On Monday at 1.30 a.m. they took us to Airport and again made us to wait until 6 a.m., when an official came to us and told the flight was again rescheduled to night. Once again we had to return to the hotel,  he said.

œMy daughter-in-law and her two small kids were among the stranded passengers in Dammam. They had to face severe difficulties thanks to carelessness of airline authorities,  said B A Mohammad Ali, a Mangalorean. œThey were twice taken to the Airport from the hotel and left unattended for a long time,  he added.

Sameera (name changed), another Mangaloren passenger, said that she and her two small kids a two-and-a-half-year-old boy and an eleven-month-old baby had to undergo inexplicable difficulties for two days. œMy kids were starving and there was no food and water for them in my small vanity bag. I never imagined such a situation,  she lamented.

Airlines Warned

Iqbal Kana, our correspondent in Dammam, said that annoyed by the indifference of Air India Express officials, the authorities at Dammam International Airport issued a warning on Monday and asked them to solve the problems of passengers immediately.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister said that Air India Express was warned for troubling its Dammam-Mangalore passengers. œThere are several complaints against the Air India Express from its regular passengers these years. But the airlines failed to learn the lesson,  he lamented.

Also Read: Mangalore-bound passengers stranded at Dammam as AIE flight delayed by 2 days

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News Network
May 12,2024

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing into sexual abuse charges against Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, will not be going abroad to bring him back, and the Interpol will share information about him.

He also cautioned political leaders about making public statements or sharing information in connection with the case, which is sensitive.

The 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna, who is grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, is facing charges of sexually abusing several women.

The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.

Prajwal Revanna is said to have flown abroad on April 27, a day after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka was held.

He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's joint candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls in the first phase.

"No, there is no such option. Blue Corner Notice has been issued and the Interpol will share the information. The respective country in which he is found or identified - they will inform them (Interpol) and then our agencies, the CBI will get to know, and through them we will get to know."

"So far there is no information," Parameshwara said.

He was responding to a question on reports about the SIT team travelling abroad in connection with the case.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Investigation is going on, not to affect the investigation we don't want to share any information."

Responding to a question on Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's statement alleging conspiracy behind the arrest of BJP leader Devaraje Gowda, for making allegations against Congress leaders in connection with the case, Parameshwara said, "If anyone says anything I cannot react to it. We cannot respond to every public statement. As this is a serious case, we cannot share information until the investigation is completed."

"My request to the public and to our leaders is to be cautious while making statements. If not, based on the statements given by them, we may have to call them for investigation and record their statement under 41 A of CrPC," he added.

Asked whether JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy will also be served notice, the Minister said he is a former CM and that he believes that the former has taken this case seriously.

"Before giving any statements on this case or before sharing any information in the public domain, one has to be cautious, and this applies to all," he added.

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News Network
May 12,2024

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Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat High School in Harekala, popularly known as Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba’s school, is gearing up to inaugurate its first batch of Pre-University (PU) courses starting June 1. 

The government issued an order to elevate the school established by Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba to the status of a PU College a few months ago.

The School Education and Literacy Department (PU Education) has formally sanctioned the upgrade for the school.

CD Jayanna, the deputy director of PU Education, confirmed that all necessary approvals have been obtained from the government to initiate PU classes.

“Hajabba’s school will kick off PU classes for its inaugural batch on June 1. We have appointed a senior lecturer as the interim principal for the PU college. Presently, the school possesses the essential temporary infrastructure to begin the I PU batch. Plans are underway to enhance the infrastructure for the PU college in the future. Currently, the school boasts adequate classrooms and facilities to commence PU classes,” stated Jayanna.

Harekala Hajabba, an orange vendor, personally erected the school in his native village, New Padpu in Harekala, situated approximately 35 km from Mangaluru. For several years, he has tirelessly petitioned the government for the establishment of a PU college.

Expressing his gratitude, Hajabba mentioned that 19 students who recently completed their SSLC examinations are poised to enroll in the new PU college. He added, “We anticipate enrollment from neighboring villages as well. Both the interim principal and the PU education department have been diligently orchestrating the necessary arrangements to initiate classes.” 

He extended his appreciation to the government, local representatives, and officials for their unwavering support.

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News Network
May 14,2024

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Mangaluru, May 14: The Met department has sounded a yellow alert in 13 districts of Karnataka including the three coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada for next four days. 

The other districts are Belagavi, Dharwad, Haveri, Chikkamagalur, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Ramanagara, Shivamogga. These districts are expected to received 6-11 cm of rain, the department said.

On Monday Dakshina Kannada and Udupi experienced a monsoon-like atmosphere. Rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, began in most parts on Sunday evening. In Udupi, rain showered in the early hours of Monday. While Kundapur and Udupi received moderate rains, Karkala experienced a heavy downpour.

The showers lowered the daytime temperature in both districts. Light rain fell in Mangaluru and its outskirts early Monday morning. Mangaluru city recorded a maximum temperature of 33.4°C and a minimum of 23.2°C on Monday. This is expected to decrease by two to four degrees in the next four days, according to the weather department. 

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