There must be something wrong, says Ashwini's father

July 4, 2011

Mangalore, July 4: Stunned by the dope test failure of golden girl Ashwini Akkunji, her father Chidananda Shetty, said that there must be something wrong somewhere.

Two prominent female athletes of the country - Priyanka Panwar and Udupi based Ashwini Akkunji on Monday tested positive for an anabolic steroid.

The sad news was conveyed to Mr Shetty, who resides at Jansaale, Siddapur in Udupi, by her proud daughter Ashwni herself over phone.

When contacted, Mr Shetty said that her daughter, who had won gold medals at 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2010 Asian Games, was 'innocent'.

Reiterating his daughter's innocence, Mr Shetty said that it was not true that she has consumed anabolic steroids.

“My daughter is in shocked state knowing the result. But she is confident of overcoming the dope test failure” said Mr Shetty. “She also soothed me and asked not to worry on the matter,” he added.

Ashwini with parents (File Photo)

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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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