Kundapur man among six Indians killed in Riyadh fire mishap; Bodies to be flown home soon

July 2, 2011

Riyadh, July 2: Seven people including a man hailing from Kundapur taluk in Udupi district, were killed in a fire mishap early on Saturday morning at Riaydh, the capital city of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


The tragedy occurred in a residential room in the upper part of Al-Suvailin Supermarket in Bathha area of the capital.

Mohammad_Kota

Muhammad Kota

The Kundapur based victim, who was working in the same Supermarket, has been identified as 44 year old Muhammad Kota. The deceased Keralites are Abdul Rahim from Thrissur, Sulaiman and Ahmed Kabir from Nilabur, Sajith, Mavelikkara and Ajith from Ernakulam. The seventh victim is Salahi Rajesh from Nepal.

It is gathered that only seven people were there inside the flat, when it was engulfed by the fire.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed confirmed Six Indians were among seven persons killed in a fire mishap. “Five of the victims were from Kerala. The other Indian victim in the fire, which broke out in the second floor of a building at Al Bathha area of Riyadh, hailed from Karnataka”, he said.

He said that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has been instructed to make arrangements for bringing home the bodies of the six Indians as soon as possible.

"Our embassy in Riyadh has been asked to make arrangements for flying home the bodies of the victims at the expenses of the Indian Government," Mr. Ahamed said.

Expressing sorrow over the loss of human lives in the accident, he said the Saudi Government would be ordering a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the fire.

A large number of Indian workers including Keralites and Mangaloreans stay in the building.

Family shell-shocked

The news of the tragic death of Muhammad has left his family members in Padukere of Kota village in Kundapur taluk, shell-shocked.

Son of Late Abdullah alias Annunji Saheb and Late Khatheejabi couple, Muhammad was working in Saudi Arabia for past eight years. He is survived by his wife Aishamma, son Junaid, a PUC student, daughter Yasmeen, a class-X student, six brothers, three sisters and a large number of relatives and friends.

More details are awaited.

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News Network
December 1,2025

hindutvaboy.jpg

Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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News Network
November 22,2025

The Karnataka government has announced a 50% rebate on pending traffic and transport fines. The discount is available from November 21 to December 12.

The rebate applies to all traffic e-challans and violation cases booked by the RTO between 1991–92 and 2019–20. Officials clarified that the offer is not applicable to pending tax dues and is restricted only to traffic-violation fines.

Across Karnataka, more than 4 lakh RTO cases remain pending, including those involving transport vehicles. While thousands of vehicle owners have already cleared their dues, the department expects to generate substantial revenue through this limited-period rebate.

How to Pay and Avail the Discount

There are three ways to check and pay your pending fines:

1. Through Mobile Apps
Available on both Play Store and App Store:
•    Karnataka State Police (KSP) app
•    KarnatakaOne app
•    ASTraM app

Steps:
•    Enter your vehicle number in any of the above apps
•    Verify the photo/details of your vehicle
•    Pay the fine with the 50% discount applied

2. Visit a Traffic Police Station

You can pay your pending fine at any nearby traffic police station.

3. Visit the Traffic Management Centre (TMC)

•    Location: First Floor, Infantry Road, near Indian Express, Bengaluru

Transport Commissioner Yogeesh A M said, “We don't issue e-challans, so there's no online payment system.”

The department estimates ₹52 crore in pending RTO fines up to March 2020. “With the 50% rebate, we expect to collect around ₹25 crore if all dues are cleared,” he added.

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News Network
November 22,2025

Udupi, Nov 22: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has officially confirmed Narendra Modi’s visit to Udupi on November 28 and shared his detailed schedule with the Karnataka chief secretary.

According to the itinerary, the Prime Minister will land at Mangaluru International Airport from Delhi at 11:05 am and depart for Udupi by helicopter at 11:10 am. He is expected to arrive at the Adi Udupi helipad at 11:35 am.

The earlier plan for a roadshow has been cancelled. Instead, PM Modi will proceed directly to Sri Krishna Math at 12 pm, where he will have darshan of Sri Krishna and address participants of the Laksha Kanta Geetha Gayana event.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to depart from the Adi Udupi helipad at 1:35 pm, returning to Mangaluru Airport before leaving for Goa at 2 pm.

The state administration has been directed to make all necessary arrangements for the visit.

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