Karna govt to allow "Kambala" with riders after court verdict

Belagavi, Dec 16: The Karnataka government will allow conducting of Kambala, traditional buffalo racing on slush tracks, in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, but with certain riders in line with the High Court verdict, Minister for Law T B Jayachandra said here today.

The court had quashed the Deputy Commissioner's ban on Kambala in the two districts with Justice S Abdul Nazeer passing an interim order allowing the race with some riders, including not subjecting the animals to any kind of cruelty.

The other conditions laid down by the court yesterday are -the animals should not be tortured, tormented, stabbed or beaten and no irritant solution should be used on them, Jayachandra said.

Replying to BJP's Sunil Kumar's demand for asking the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district administration to withdraw the ban on Kambala, Jayachandra said the Deputy Commissioner does not have powers on the matter, but had acted on a letter by the Animal Welfare Board of India, stating that the Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu, a bullfight in Tamil Nadu.

Jayachandra said the power to lift the ban on Kambala, instead rests with the AWBI, not with the Deputy Commissioner.

The court, in the interim order, had observed that Kambala was banned without taking the views of the experts as was done in the case of Jallikattu.

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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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