Karnataka govt mulls permitting Ganesha Utsav with covid rules

News Network

August 30, 2021

Bengaluru, Aug 30: Karnataka Minister Govind Karjol Monday said the state government will try to give permission to Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava as per the Covid guidelines.

"Sarvajanik Ganesha Utsava is a very big festival. We have been celebrating it from time immemorial from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It is also celebrated in a big way in Belagavi, after Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra. Therefore, we will try to give permission to Ganesha Utsav according to Covid guidelines," he told reporters in Belagavi.

Many Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals across Karnataka are in a dilemma as there is no clarity from the government on installing Ganesh idols in public places.

Many Sarvajanik Ganesha mandals are waiting for clarity from the government to book the idols and kickstart preparations for setting up pandals.

A decision in this regard is expected to be made public by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in the evening. He is scheduled to hold a meeting beginning at 4 pm.

"A final decision on giving permission to the Utsava will be taken by the chief minister," Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said.

He said no government likes to ban any festival celebrations, but the situation is bad due to Coronavirus. "Therefore, in accordance with the prevailing situation, the government will take a decision on allowing Sarvajanik Ganesha Utsava," Sudhakar said.

Basavaraj Horatti, Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, said the government should permit Sarvajanik Ganesha Utsava and it will be inappropriate if they ban it.

However, there must be a ban on gambling and merry-making at Sarvajanik Ganesha pandals, he said.

Sri Ram Sene president Pramod Muthalik threatened to stage sit-in dharnas if the government imposes a ban on the Utsava.

He, however, did not demand for holding Ganesha rallies or conducting concerts during the festival period.

"The government can allow people to take darshan of Ganesha. We are also demanding distribution of prasada and theertha as well," he said.

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Why Govt wants to give permission for ganeshutsav.. when there is threat of coming 3rd wave which is dangerous than 1st and 2nd.
FOR EID there is restrictions and for Hindu festivals no restrictions.
As In Eid there is no gatherings like Hindus festivals.
Govt. should think again

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Saudi-Kerala AIE flight diverted to Mangaluru for medical emergency

News Network

December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs.

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said.

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India’s Tougher Pilot Fatigue Rules: Why IndiGo’s Operations Crashed Into Turbulence

News Network

December 6,2025

New Delhi: IndiGo, India’s largest airline, faced major operational turbulence this week after failing to prepare for new pilot-fatigue regulations issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The stricter rules—designed to improve flight safety—took effect in phases through 2024, with the latest implementation on November 1. IndiGo has acknowledged that inadequate roster planning led to widespread cancellations and delays.

Below are the key DGCA rules that affected IndiGo’s operations:

1. Longer Mandatory Weekly Rest

Weekly rest for pilots has been increased from 36 hours to 48 hours.

The government says the extended break is essential to curb cumulative fatigue. This rule remains in force despite the current crisis.

2. Cap on Night Landings

Pilots can now perform only two night landings per week—a steep reduction from the earlier limit of six.

Night hours, defined as midnight to early morning, are considered the least alert period for pilots.

Given the disruptions, this rule has been temporarily relaxed for IndiGo until February 10.

3. Reduced Maximum Night Flight Duty

Flight duty that stretches into the night is now capped at 10 hours.

This measure has also been kept on hold for IndiGo until February 10 to stabilize operations.

4. Weekly Rest Cannot Be Replaced With Personal Leave

Airlines can no longer count a pilot’s personal leave as part of the mandatory 48-hour rest.

Pilots say this closes a loophole that previously reduced actual rest time.

Currently, all airlines are exempt from this rule to normalise travel.

5. Mandatory Fatigue Monitoring

Airlines must submit quarterly fatigue reports along with corrective actions to DGCA.

This system aims to create a transparent fatigue-tracking framework across the industry.

The DGCA has stressed that these rules were crafted to strengthen flight safety and align India with global fatigue-management standards. The temporary relaxations are expected to remain until February 2025, giving IndiGo time to stabilise its schedules and restore normal air travel.

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