Protest against Official's statement on UPCL

March 5, 2011

Udupi, March 5: Hundreds of Raitha Sangha activists, on Friday gheraoed Taluk Office, Udupi, protesting against Udupi Tahasildar Prasanna's statement supporting Nagarjuna.

It is to be noted here that in a section of Kannada dailies, a statement convincing the people that Nagarjuna power plant will not have any ill effects on the environment, had got published.

Replying to agitators Prasanna said that he had not issued any such press statement. During heated exchanges it was learnt that a press release issued by the UPCL Vice President Kirshore Alva had the quotes of Tahasildar Prasanna. Later Tahasildar assured the agitators that he would issue a show cause notice to the UPCL why the legal action could not be initiated against the company for misusing his name and the post.

Agitating activists also splashed salt water on the District Environment Officer Ravichandra for not taking any action against UPCL, even though their well water had been turned saline due to the discharge of release through the open well. At that time Ravichandra was in the pump house of the UPCL, at Yermal near Padubidri.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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