Gulf sandstorm makes presence felt over Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Mumbai

[email protected] (CD Network)
April 8, 2015

Karwar/Mumbai, Apr 8: Parts of Maharashtra, Goa and coastal Karnataka suffered low visibility for a couple of days due to the after-effects of last week’s major sandstorm in the Gulf region.

The effects of the ‘haboob’ (Arabic for intense dust storm) were felt across West Coast of India, according to meteorologists. The north coastal and north western parts, which include Mumbai and Nashik, were hit hard as visibility was markedly affected.

Pune-Mumbai highway traffic has been partially affected due to low visibility. The dust storm crossed the Arabian Sea and its remnants affected some parts of India.

“The haze seen over Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Karwar is the residual element of the Gulf sandstorm which has now crossed the Arabian Sea,” said a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

Though this is not the first time the India has experienced dust storm,  It is an occasional occurrence.

The phenomenon has alarmed physicians who are worried that the pollution may trigger asthma attacks and set off respiratory ailments.

Mumbai most polluted city

Mumbai has trounced Delhi as India's most polluted city on two consecutive days starting Sunday.

The US embassy's air quality index (AQI) readings for the area around its embassy in New Delhi and consulate in Mumbai at 10am on Sunday showed that particulate matter in Mumbai stood at 183 as against 173 in Delhi. Monday's readings were 201 in Mumbai compared to 197 in Delhi.

But this "dangerous" reading is likely to be temporary as it was caused by the remnants of a dust storm that originated in the Arabian Peninsula and crossed the Arabian Sea into Mumbai.

Experts say the resulting haze over the city most possibly contained PM2.5—the term for particulate matter, or particles, whose diameter is less than 2.5 micrometres. PM2.5 is considered dangerous because it could worsen the plight of patients suffering from heart diseases, respiratory problems such as asthma, or lung cancer.

AQI has emerged in recent times as an indicator of a city's overall air quality. Last year, Beijing and New Delhi made headlines for their poor AQI (on Monday, Beijing's AQI stood at a moderate 53).

Mumbai is likely to limp back to normalcy within a day, said experts. But antipollution activists like Sumaira Abdulali said Monday's readings should make Mumbaikars realize that the sea cannot always drive away pollutants. "The sea does help in keep air pollution low, but it can only help so much. The pollutants, moreover, come back in the form of water vapour or rain and get into our food chain," she said.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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