Nitte Engineering College hosts 'Semaphore'

March 22, 2012

Mangalore, March 22: Build the fundamental strong and concentrate more on articulation along with communication, said Chakravarthy E S, Central Head, TCS, Bangalore.

He was inaugurating two-day South India level Inter Collegiate Tech Fest 'Semaphore' in NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte campus, organised by the Department of MCA.

He advised the students to expand their knowledge in academics and recognize their talents in other curriculum activities. Grabbing the opportunities that come along the way would also help in achieving the excellence, he added.

Dr S YKulkarni, Principal of the institute in his presidential address said these fests give the platform for students to showcase their talents and move out from their comfort zone.

Dr. K.Mohan Hegde, Director of MCA spoke on the occasion. Sarika Hegde, staff coordinator introduced the chief guest. Nithin M R, President of Student Association of MCA (SAMCA) welcomed the gathering. Jason Rego, Semaphore secretary briefed on the activities held by SAMCA in 2011-12. Jyotsna Monteiro, SAMCA secretary delivered the vote of thanks. Meghna compered the programme. Invocation dance was performed by Kavya.

Arun G.K, Head of campus recruitment, TCS and Vinay Biradar, Head of staffing, TCS were also present during the occasion.

About 150 students from 15 different colleges running MCA programme from different states of South India are being participated in various technical events such as web designing, video editing, stress management, technical paper presentation, IT quiz etc of the fest.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

Comments