Thackeray shared strong bond with his Muslim physician

Mumbai, November 18: He was considered a right-wing Hindu leader -- but Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray, who died Saturday, had full faith in a Muslim doctor, who was treating him for the last four years.

One might never to able to solve the mystery as to why Thackeray trusted his family's health on Jalil Parkar, but the meticulous chest physician ensured that the trust was never broken.

In 2009, when Thackeray had severe breathing difficulty, it was this doctor, trained in the United States, who came to his aid and over a period of time became a permanent visitor to Matoshri -- the Thackeray residence.

Even as Thackeray headed a party known for its right-wing Hindu nationalist views, Parkar never complained of any religious biases. He in fact said Thackeray was one of the kindest souls he had interacted with.

It was evident from the fact that Parkar was choked up and had visibly damp eyes while he, and not a party member, announced the death of the 86-year-old Shiv Sena founder.

Party workers also acknowledged Parkar's required presence at Matoshri. He was even seen sitting behind a frail Thackeray as he addressed the party's signature Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai last year.

Such was the faith Thackeray had in Parkar that even party spokesperson Sanjay Raut publicly acknowledged it and praised Thackeray and Parkar for the bond that they shared.

Raut had said Thackeray never had any problems with a Muslim doctor leading a team of doctors treating him. "He had immense faith in Dr. Parkar," Raut had said earlier.

After all, it was Parkar's constant care and perfect prescription that helped bring under control Thackeray's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung disease that makes breathing difficult.

And it did not stop at that.

Parkar was right there when Thackeray's son Uddhav fell ill in July. Like his father, who has had two heart interventions - the first in 1996 and the second in 2009 done by Parker - Uddhav too underwent two angioplasty procedures in July and October. Parkar was at Uddhav's side then too.

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IndiGo meltdown: 200 flights cancelled; Bengaluru hit hard with 42 cancellations

News Network

December 3,2025

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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