Hajj pilgrims return home; Complain of irresponsible attitude of authorities at Jeddah

November 13, 2011

Mangalore, November 13: After 19-hour delay from scheduled time, the first batch of Hajj pilgrims from this part of the state reached Mangalore on Sunday morning.

Despite the unexpected delay over a thousand people from different parts of the coastal Karnataka were anxiously waiting for their Haji kin. Mangalore Airport authorities confirmed that a Nas Airlines flight carrying 160 pilgrims, landed at Mangalore Airport at 7:15 am.

Karnataka State Hajj Committee Chairman S Mohammed Ghouse Basha Ashrafi, Hajj Executive Committee President Yenepoya Mohammed Kunnhi, and fellow members Moidin Bava, Riyaz Bava, Basheer Ahmed were at the forefront to accord a warm welcome to the pilgrims.

Stranded in Jeddah

On their way back home after completing Hajj rituals, the first batch of Hajj pilgrims from Mangalore had got stranded at King Abdul Azeez International Airport at Jeddah for over 15 hours.

It is learnt that the repeated revision of flight schedule added to the woe of pilgrims.

Some pilgrims expressed severe displeasure over the irresponsibility of authorities, who failed to take care of them at Jeddah Airport.

The first batch of pilgrims was scheduled to reach Mangalore at 12:10 pm on Saturday.

One of the pilgrims complained that although their batch was taken to Jeddah Airport even before the scheduled time, they had to starve for many hours there amid the biting cold.

“Lack of arrangements at Jeddah angered many of the pilgrims”, said Mohammed Kunnhi.

An elderly Haji from Mangalore said that the pilgrims had to face many troubles in Jeddah and throughout their homecoming journey due to the irresponsibility and indifferent attitude of authorities. He said that apart from the unjustifiable delay in flight schedule, the pilgrims were not served food on time.

Another passenger said that he could not eat proper food during at Jeddah Airport. He said that some of his co-passengers were too hungry as they do not have the habit of eating strange foods.

Mr Ashrafi said that the irresponsibility on part of the authorities of Nas Airlines, which had taken the responsibility of dispatching the Hajj pilgrims to Mangalore, was main reason for their woes.

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From malls to highways, Kannada signboards to be enforced in Dakshina Kannada

News Network

February 4,2026

Mangaluru: Urban local bodies and gram panchayats should make the use of Kannada on signboards mandatory while issuing trade licences to commercial establishments, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said. He also called for regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Presiding over the District Kannada Awareness Committee meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, Darshan said the city corporation would be directed to ensure that shops operating in malls prominently display their names in Kannada. “All commercial establishments, including shops, companies, offices and hotels, must mandatorily display their names in Kannada on signboards,” he said.

The deputy commissioner added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be instructed to include Kannada on signboards along national highways. Banks, he said, would be directed through committee meetings to provide application forms in Kannada.

“Even if English-medium schools and colleges impart education in English, their signboards must display the institution’s name in Kannada. Steps will also be taken to ensure that private buses display place names in Kannada,” Darshan said.

During the meeting, committee members raised concerns over the closure of Kannada-medium schools in rural areas due to a shortage of teachers and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures. They also pointed out that several industries employ workers from other states while overlooking local candidates.

Members further demanded that nationalised banks provide deposit and withdrawal slips in Kannada. It was brought to the deputy commissioner’s notice that the presence of staff without knowledge of Kannada in rural branches of nationalised banks is causing hardship to local customers.

Meanwhile, MP Srinath, president of the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, urged the district administration to allot land for the construction of a district Kannada Bhavana in Mangaluru.

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