Riot-hit old Hyderabad calm, but tense

April 10, 2012

Riot
Hyderabad, April 10: An eerie calm prevails in the Old City. Curfew continued on Tuesday for the thirth day with reports of clashes from different areas on Monday.

Despite curfew in some areas, minor communal incidents, including a bid to burn down a garage at Umda Bazaar in Kamatipura, have been reported from different areas of the walled city on Monday.

Elsewhere, miscreants dumped body parts of animals at two places of worship.

Apart from curfew-bound areas of Madannapet and Saidabad , shops and business establishments remained shut throughout the Old City. Meanwhile, police have arrested seven persons for their role in Sunday's communal incidents and 25 cases of violence have been transferred to the Central Crime Station (CCS) on Monday.

Following the incident of miscreants throwing objectionable material at a place of worship in Narayanguda on Sunday night, two more such incidents have been reported in Kacheguda on Monday morning. Bang in front of a religious place on the Amberpet-Kacheguda road, miscreants threw animal parts in the wee hours of Monday. Alerted by its staff, police immediately reached the spot and removed the animal parts.

Later, representatives of another place of worship in Nimboliadda approached police alleging that they found flesh on their premises. "We have booked suo motu cases under sections 295-A (Maliciously insulting the religious sentiments of any religion) and 153-A (promoting enmity between classes) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," DCP, East Zone, Y Gangadhar said.

On Sunday night, East and South zone police rounded up 157 communal and history sheeters. The South Zone police have registered 15 cases in relation to the communal violence, while the East Zone booked 12 cases. The Chandrayangutta police have arrested Shaik Jaffar and Shaik Shareef for damaging an RTC bus, while the Saidabad police arrested five persons __ Syed Javeed, Imran Bin Omar, M A Nayeem Junaid, M Santosh and M Raju__ for bikeburning incidents at Idgah grounds and stone pelting in Zakir Hussain Colony.

Tension prevailed in Balapur following the death of a 40-year-old businessman on Monday night. The victim was identified as Shivaiah of Srinagar near Imamguda on the outskirts of the city. Police said Shivaiah, who owned brick kilns, died in a road mishap at the Weaker Sections' Colony near Balapur while he was on his way to Saidabad along with his cousin Sekhar on a bike. However, locals claim he was attacked by miscreants with a sword. Locals found Shivaiah dead on the road with critical injuries, while his cousin Sekhar suffered injuries at around 9.30 pm. Soon people started gathering in large numbers as locals suspected that it was a communal murder. Meanwhile, police rushed to the spot and, after talking to Sekhar, said that the death was due to a road accident."Sekhar told us that a heavy vehicle hit their bike and the pillion-rider died due to the resultant injuries. Sekhar himself suffered injuries and was shifted to hospital," DCP, Shamshabad, G Sudheer Babu said.However, BJP leader Badam Bal Reddy, who reached the spot, alleged that Shivaiah was attacked with a sword by miscreants. The body has been shifted to Osmania Hospital for a post-mortem. In view of the latest incident, security has been stepped up across the city.

On Monday, Hyderabad police commissioner A K Khan transferred the investigation of 25 communal violence cases to CCS sleuths. The Old City wore a deserted look as most people preferred to remain indoors. Business establishments remained closed, fearing a violent aftermath even as shopkeepers in Laad Bazaar were instructed by police to down their shutters. Charminar witnessed no tourism activity.

A bangle seller from Laad Bazaar, requesting anonymity said, "This isn't a matter of a day or two, but will continue for a week at least. There are more than 400 shops in the area and the loss in the neighbourhood alone will easily be in crores. Also, prices of essential commodities are rapidly climbing. The aam aadmi is suffering."Commuters were hit as buses went off arterial roads. APSRTC regional manager N V Rao said, "The Chandrayangutta-Afzalgunj via Charminar, Shah Ali Banda and Engine Bowli route was not operational today."

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News Network
December 3,2025

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IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is battling one of its worst operational disruptions in recent years, with hundreds of delays and cancellations throwing domestic travel into chaos.

Government data on Tuesday showed its on-time performance plunging to 35%, an unusual dip for a carrier long associated with punctuality.

By Wednesday afternoon, airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad had collectively reported close to 200 cancellations, stranding travellers across the country.

Crew Shortage After New Duty Norms

A major trigger behind the meltdown is a severe crew shortage, especially among pilots, following the rollout of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms last month.

The rules mandate longer rest hours and more humane rosters — a shift IndiGo has struggled to incorporate across its vast network.

Sources said several flights were grounded due to lack of cabin crew, while some delays stretched upwards of eight hours.

With IndiGo controlling over 60% of India’s domestic aviation market, the ripple effect has impacted airports nationwide.

IndiGo Issues Apology, Lists “Compounding Factors”

In a statement, IndiGo acknowledged the large-scale disruption:

“We sincerely apologise to customers. A series of unforeseen operational challenges — technology glitches, winter schedule changes, adverse weather, system congestion and updated FDTL norms — created a compounding impact that could not have been anticipated.”

To stabilise operations, the airline has begun calibrated schedule adjustments for the next 48 hours, aiming to restore punctuality. Affected passengers are being offered refunds or alternate travel arrangements, IndiGo said.

What the FDTL Rules Require

The FDTL norms, designed to reduce pilot fatigue, cap duty and flying hours as follows:
•    Maximum 8 hours of flying per day
•    35 hours per week
•    125 hours per month
•    1,000 hours per year

Crew must also receive rest equalling twice the flight duration, with a minimum 10-hour rest period in any 24-hour window.

The DGCA introduced these limits to enhance flight safety.

Hyderabad: 33 Flights Cancelled, Long Queues Reported

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport saw heavy early-morning crowds as 33 IndiGo flights (arrivals and departures) were cancelled.

The airport clarified on X that operations were normal, advising passengers to contact IndiGo directly for latest flight status.

Cancellations included flights to and from Visakhapatnam, Goa, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Madurai, Hubli, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar.

Bengaluru: 42 Flights Disrupted

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport recorded 42 cancellations — 22 arrivals and 20 departures — affecting routes to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata and Lucknow.

Passengers Vent on Social Media

Irate travellers took to X to share their experiences. One passenger stranded in Hyderabad wrote: “I have been here since 3 a.m. and missed an important meeting.”

Another said: “My flight was pushed from 1:55 PM to 2:55 PM and now 4:35 PM. I was informed only three minutes before entering the airport.”

Delhi Airport Hit by Tech Glitch

At Delhi Airport, the disruption deepened due to a slowdown in the Amadeus system — used for reservations, check-ins and departure control.

The technical issue led to longer queues and sluggish processing, adding to delays already worsened by staff shortages.

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News Network
December 2,2025

A major upgrade in safety and monitoring is planned for Haj 2026, with every Indian pilgrim set to receive a Haj Suvidha smart wristband linked to the official Haj Suvidha mobile app. The initiative aims to support pilgrims—especially senior citizens—who may struggle with smartphones during the 45-day journey.

What the Smart Wristband Will Do

Officials said the device will come with:
•    Location tracking
•    Pedometer
•    SOS emergency button
•    Qibla compass
•    Prayer timings
•    Basic health monitoring

SP Tiwari, secretary of the UP State Haj Committee, said the goal is to make the pilgrimage safer and more comfortable.

“Most Hajis are elderly and not comfortable with mobile apps,” he said. “The smartwatch will help locate pilgrims who forget their way or cannot communicate their location.”

The wristbands will be monitored by the Consulate General of India in Saudi Arabia, similar to mobile tracking via the Haj Suvidha App.

Free Distribution and Training

•    Smart wristbands will be given free of cost.
•    Training for pilgrims will be conducted between January and February 2026.
•    Sample units will reach state Haj committees soon.
•    Final devices will be distributed as pilgrims begin their journey.

New Rules for Accommodation

Two major decisions have also been finalised for Haj 2026:
1.    Separate rooms for men and women – including married couples. They may stay on the same floor but must occupy different rooms, following stricter Saudi guidelines.
2.    Cooking banned – gas cylinders will not be allowed; all meals will be provided through official catering services arranged by the Haj Committee of India.

These decisions were finalised during a meeting of the Haj Committee of India and state representatives in Mumbai.

Haj Suvidha App Launched Earlier

The government launched the Haj Suvidha App in 2024, offering:

•    Training modules
•    Accommodation and flight details
•    Baggage information
•    SOS and translation tools
•    Grievance redressal

Haj 2026 Quota and Key States

•    India’s total Haj quota for 2026: 1,75,025 pilgrims
•    70% (1,25,000) allotted to the Haj Committee of India
•    30% (around 50,000) reserved for Haj Group Organisers

Uttar Pradesh has the largest allocation (around 30,000 seats), though approximately 18,000 pilgrims are expected to go this year. States with high pilgrim numbers include Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Dates of Haj 2026

The pilgrimage is scheduled to take place from 24 May to 29 May, 2026 (tentative).
Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for Muslims who meet the required conditions.

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News Network
December 4,2025

indigoflight.jpg

Domestic carrier IndiGo has cancelled over 180 flights from three major airports — Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru — on Thursday, December 4, as the airline struggles to secure the required crew to operate its flights in the wake of new flight-duty and rest-period norms for pilots.

While the number of cancellations at Mumbai airport stands at 86 (41 arrivals and 45 departures) for the day, at Bengaluru, 73 flights have been cancelled, including 41 arrivals, according to a PTI report that quoted sources.

"IndiGo cancelled over 180 flights on Thursday at three airports-Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru," the source told the news agency.

Besides, it had cancelled as many as 33 flights at Delhi airport for Thursday, the source said, adding, "The number of cancellations is expected to be higher by the end of the day."

The Gurugram-based airline's On-Time Performance (OTP) nosedived to 19.7 per cent at six key airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — on December 3, as it struggled to get the required crew to operate its services, down from almost half of December 2, when it was 35 per cent.

"IndiGo has been facing acute crew shortage since the implementation of the second phase of the FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) norms, leading to cancellations and huge delays in its operations across the airports," a source had told PTI on Wednesday.

Chaos continued at several major airports for the third day on Thursday because of the cancellations.

A spokesperson for the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru said that 73 IndiGo flights had been cancelled on Thursday.

At least 150 flights were cancelled and dozens of others delayed on Wednesday, airport sources said, leaving thousands of travellers stranded, according to news agency Reuters.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has said it is investigating IndiGo flight disruptions and has asked the airline to submit the reasons for the current situation, as well as its plans to reduce flight cancellations and delays.

It may be mentioned here that the pilots' body, Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), has alleged that IndiGo, despite getting a two-year preparatory window before the full implementation of new flight duty and rest period norms for cockpit crew, "inexplicably" adopted a "hiring freeze".

The FIP said it has urged the safety regulator, the DGCA, not to approve airlines' seasonal flight schedules unless they have adequate staff to operate their services "safely and reliably" in accordance with the New Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.

In a letter to the DGCA late on Wednesday, the FIP urged the DGCA to consider re-evaluating and reallocating slots to other airlines, which have the capacity to operate them without disruption during the peak holiday and fog season if IndiGo continues to "fail in delivering on its commitments to passengers due to its own avoidable staffing shortages."

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