Don't charge labourers, APL card holders for medical treatment'

February 15, 2011

Mangalore, February 15: Despite repeated appeals from Dakshina Kannada district administration to withdraw its decision, the Akhila Bharatha Karmika Sangha (ABKS) on Tuesday launched a continuous day-night silent dharana in front of the Wenlock hospital and Lady Goschen Hospitals against the move to charge labourers and APL card holders seeking treatment at Government Wenlock District Hospital.

The main demands of the protesters include cancelling of medicine and bed fees, providing hot water for bath for pregnant and lady patients, controlling the misappropriation of funds sanctioned by the government, provision of 30 beds in Intensive Care Unit etc.

Speaking to media persons Jalandhar Shetty, City President of ABKS said that the Wenlock hospital which should have been serving the poor patients, has turned into a death zone.

He said most of the staff in both hospitals are not behaving well with the patients.

Meanwhile, the district administration has urged ABKS to give up its continuous silent protest. Earlier, the District Surgeon P Saroja and Superintendent of Lady Goschen held meetings with members of the ABKS and explained to them about the functioning of the two units, which are charging minimum fee for few types of treatment alone as per government orders. The fee is used for hospital development purposes, according to them.

However Shetty said that his Sangha would continue the protest until its demands get fulfilled

Ramesh Rao, City Spokesperson of the Sangha, Eshwar Shetty, City Vice President, Raju Kulal, General Secretary and Praveen Amlamogaru are among the protesters.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Stranded, hungry, and helpless: Last-minute cancellation of Dammam flight sparks chaos at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

November 24,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 24: The original departure time of 11.10 pm was a distant memory for scores of Dammam-bound passengers at Mangaluru International Airport last Friday night, as their Air India Express flight was abruptly cancelled at the eleventh hour, sparking hours of frustration and chaos.

The flight, IX 885, initially scheduled to depart at 11.10 pm on November 22, was subject to two back-to-back reschedules—first pushed to 11.45 pm and then significantly postponed to 1.40 am—before the final, crushing announcement of cancellation was made. For the travellers, many of whom are likely expatriate workers with tight schedules, the last-minute change marked the beginning of a distressing ordeal.

"There was no drinking water, no food, and absolutely no proper guidance. We were left stranded like refugees," complained a stranded passenger.

According to multiple passenger accounts, the airline's ground staff failed to provide adequate support or essential amenities following the cancellation. Complaints poured in about the total absence of drinking water, food provisions, and any reliable guidance from the carrier's representatives. Travellers alleged they were left stranded for a considerable period, with no immediate arrangements or clear communication offered regarding accommodation or alternative travel to send them back home.

The incident has highlighted serious concerns over the carrier's contingency planning and customer service protocols during flight disruptions at one of India's key international gateways. The airline is yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing the alleged lapse in passenger care.

Comments