Acharya team visits UPCL, interacts with local people

March 30, 2011

Udupi, March 30: An official team led by Udupi district in-charge Minister VS Acharya visited the coal-based thermal power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) and its ash pond at Yellur-Santhur in Udupi district on Tuesday.

Besides Dr. Acharya, the team comprised of Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat and Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon.

Deputy Commissioner P Hemalatha told media persons here that the team members met the local people, who voiced their grievances related to the thermal plant.

Hemalatha said it was decided that a team of experts comprising of officials from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and professors from the Manipal Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Technology – Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, would be formed. This team would visit the affected areas in 15 days.

Meanwhile, president of the district unit of the BJP K Udaykumar Shetty said that UPCL had been warned to solve the problems related to its plant near Nandikur within a month.

He said MP D V Sadananda Gowda held talks with vice-president (Corporate Affairs) of UPCL K. Kishore Alva on the matter. It had been made clear to UPCL that it would not be allowed to function if people continued to face problems.

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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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