Narendra Modi's associate Vishwanath Suvarna dies in Mangaluru

November 7, 2014

Mangaluru, Nov 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lost his only Mangaluru-based friend. Vishwanath Suvarna, who had worked with Mr Modi in Punjab nearly two decades ago, breathed his last this morning.

67-year-old Vishwanath, a resident of Mangaluru, was on cloud nine when his beloved “Narendra”, with whom he had spent more than four years in the 1990s emerged India's prime minister earlier this year.

A Pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for nearly 25 years, Vishwanath had slightly distanced himself from Sangh Parivar in recent years. However, he was a strong admirer of Mr Modi.

It is learnt that even though he was in a critical condition for a month, no prominent Sangh Parivar leader in Mangaluru visited him.

Sources said that he had been admitted to a private hospital in city a fortnight ago and gradually slipped into coma. When doctors lost all hope, he was discharged and taken back to his residence, where he breathed his last.

There was a similarity between Mr Modi and Vishwanath. Both were married before becoming RSS Pracharaks. However, Vishwanath maintained a good relationship with his wife.

After a gap of 15 years Vishwanath met Mr Modi in 2008 during latter's Mangaluru visit. His friend Balvinder Singh recalls: "When Modi, who was then chief minister of Gujarat, saw Vishwanath from far at Mangaluru Airport, the former raised both his hands and said, 'Oye Baba Vishwanath. Kya haal hai? Daadhi abhi rakhi hai!'"

Unfortunately, Vishwanath could not go to meet Mr Modi during his recent visit to Mangaluru as he had been suffering from paralysis on one side.

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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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