bangalore travel strike

Bengaluru Bandh Withdrawn: Reasons, Challenges, Government's Action Plan

Bengaluru bandh withdrawn: the karnataka transport department has made alternate arrangements to tackle the bandh..

Bengaluru Bandh Live Updates: The Bengaluru traffic police had issued a traffic advisory. (file)

The Bengaluru transport strike ( Bengaluru Bandh ) called by the Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owner Association opposing the Shakti scheme -- one of the five pre-election guarantees of the ruling Congress, which provides free travel to women on government buses -- has been withdrawn. State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy met the union leaders at Freedom Park, where the protest was underway. 27 of the 30 demands have been agreed to by the minister. 

The union leaders plan to have a delegation meet the Chief Minister with the remaining three demands.

The private transport operators say that the Shakti scheme eats into their profits.

The Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owner Association comprises a total of 32 private transport associations, and most of the private transport services were unlikely to be available during the strike. The Bengaluru Airport Authority had also advised passengers to make necessary arrangements to reach the airport on time in view of the bandh.

The private bus, taxi, and auto unions had called for a shut-down from Sunday midnight to Monday midnight. The Bengaluru traffic police issued a traffic advisory for the public to plan accordingly.

Why are private transporters protesting?

The federation called for a bandh seeking a ban on bike taxis, and urging the government to extend the Shakti scheme to private buses as well, among other demands.

The private transporters have claimed that they have been negatively impacted by the Shakti scheme and that the state government has not fulfilled their demands despite repeated discussions.

State government's response

State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has said that the private transport union is demanding Rs 1,000 crore as compensation. "Some issues are in the High Court and Supreme Court...Things which I can solve, I have taken actions on that," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said some demands by private transporters are "impossible demands" and cannot be met.

"In a democracy, we cannot put restrictions on bandhs and protests. They are the essence of democracy but they should be held peacefully that's all," Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters here, the chief minister said he and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy have heard their demands, "but if they keep impossible demands, it cannot be met." "We have implemented Shakti scheme (free transport for women in public transport buses), they are saying that -- they are facing problems because of it, as women are not going to private buses -- and so are asking the government to bear those losses, can that be done? It is practically not possible, the scheme is for the benefit of women," he said, adding that whether they are facing loss or not is a different matter.

The state's backup plan to counter the proposed strike

The Karnataka Transport Department made alternate arrangements to tackle the Bandh. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Sunday said the state transport department was preparing to operate numerous buses on the bandh day.

He assured that Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses have been arranged to avoid any inconvenience to the public.

"We have arranged BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses for school-going children, office-going people and for those who're going to hospitals. BMTC has arranged around 500 extra buses. Nothing will happen. They (private transport) are going for a strike, let them, they have the right to do so," Mr Reddy said.

The transport minister reportedly instructed officials to run government buses on the routes to schools and colleges in Bengaluru. 

He also directed that more buses should be arranged near hospitals so that patients do not face any problem.

Police tighten security

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that adequate security arrangements were made across the city as a precautionary measure to tackle any untoward incident, news agency PTI reported.

"All our officials including senior officers are on patrolling, and we have also used a sufficient number of tracking forces at all the strategic locations. We have also spoken to the associations who are participating in the strike. They would be assembling at Freedom Park, where the protest will be held," he said.

"Whoever wants to stay away from the road can stay off, but they cannot force anybody to stay off the road. We have given instructions and if anyone indulges in any kind of mischief, we will take strong action," he added.

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Lakhs of vehicles to be impacted

About 7 to10 lakh vehicles including autos, taxis, airport taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, school vehicles, also stage carriages, contract carriages and corporate buses, were supposed to go off the roads tomorrow, S Nataraj Sharma, president of the federation said.

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Bengaluru Transport Strike: Private Buses, Auto and Taxi Drivers Declare Bandh on July 27 | Here's Why

Curated By : Pritha Mallick

Last Updated: July 21, 2023, 19:48 IST

Bengaluru, India

Private bus owners have demanded the implementation of the Shakti scheme in private buses and reimbursement for women's tickets by the state government. (Image: KRTC)

Over 20 organisations representing private bus operators, tourist operators, autorickshaw and taxi drivers have decided to observe a strike to press chief minister Siddaramaiah government to fulfill their demands

Private buses, autorickshaws, and taxis are likely to stay off the roads in Bengaluru on July 27 in protest against the Congress-led Karnataka government’s Shakti scheme which allows free travel for women in the public transport system.

Over 20 organisations representing private bus operators, tourist operators, autorickshaw and taxi drivers have decided to observe a strike to press the chief minister Siddaramaiah government to fulfill their demands.

The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations said private bus operators have suffered a lot after the government introduced the Shakti scheme allowing free travel for women. Autorickshaw and taxi drivers have sought compensation, while private bus owners have demanded the implementation of the Shakti scheme in private buses and reimbursement for women’s tickets by the state government.

Auto drivers and owners’ unions have also called for a ban on illegal bike taxis and want to limit aggregator commissions to 5 per cent of the total fare.

The decision for the strike came after private operators held a meeting last week and set a one-week deadline for the government to fulfill their demands. The unions are seeking a monthly compensation subsidy of Rs 10,000 for auto drivers facing financial losses due to the Shakti scheme. They also propose a loan facility of up to Rs 2 lakh at low-interest rates to support the drivers, according to a The Hindu report

However, after the meeting, no action was taken.

Unions have said that despite private sector employing around 20 lakh people and contributes Rs 2,000 crore in taxes annually, the government has ended up neglecting the self-employed lower-middle-class people like auto and taxi drivers due to the Shakti scheme. “Many of them are not able to support their families or pay vehicle and house rent,” president of the Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association, Radhakrishna Holla, was quoted as saying to the publisher.

Launched on June 11, the Shakti scheme allows women domiciled in Karnataka to travel for free on all non-premium government buses within the state. The scheme has been successful, with a total of 22.65 crore women using it until July 19, incurring a cost of Rs 538.9 crore.

One of the five poll guarantees of the Congress government in Karnataka, the BJP has slammed the ‘Shakti’ scheme stating the transport corporations in the state will have to be shut down in four months as there is no budgetary support for scheme.

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Bengaluru: Private transporters' strike on Monday likely to affect commuters

Several schools and offices declare holiday; BMTC to deploy 500 additional buses

Autorickshaws, cabs and private buses will go off the roads in Bengaluru on Monday in response to the ‘bandh' call given by the federation of more than 32 private transporters' associations in Karnataka. Several private schools and offices have declared a holiday as the bandh will be observed from midnight of September 10 until midnight of September 11.

The federation has given the bandh call to draw the state government's attention to their long pending demands and the adverse impact of the Shakti scheme—free bus travel for women—on the private transport sector. 

The associations have been demanding adequate compensation from the government to cover the loss of revenue suffered due to the Shakti scheme, one of the free guarantee schemes of the Congress government. 

The private transport operators have demanded a financial package for commercial vehicle owners aggrieved by the Shakti scheme. The app-based cabs have urged the government to introduce 'one city one rate' policy for all online and offline cabs and to ban illegal bike taxis. The private buses have demanded the government to include them under the Shakti scheme, and hire private buses (on per kilometre cost basis). The federation has also demanded subsidies for car purchase and loan facility for those employed in the  unorganised transport sector and regulation of goods vehicles without harassment to the drivers and owners like impounding vehicles and collecting hefty penalties.

The office goers and general public can however avail the government bus services, Metro train service or use private vehicles for commuting. Ola, Uber and airport taxis and private buses will be off the roads in support of the bandh. The  Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has informed that it would be plying additional buses to meet the demand. 

"The private transporters have the right to hold strike. The BMTC will deploy 500 additional buses to make 4000 additional trips to tackle the rush. People will not be inconvenienced," said Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

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Day in pics: Bengaluru gears up for bandh tomorrow over Cauvery water dispute

Bengaluru Bandh today: From film theatres, taxis, hospitals to schools; here's what is open and what's closed

Bengaluru bandh protest against karnataka government's decision to allocate cauvery water to tamil nadu on september 26..

Bengaluru Bandh protest today, September 26, is a response to the Karnataka government's decision to allocate Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. 

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) recently instructed Karnataka to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days, following a recommendation by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), reported Times Now.

Bengaluru Bandh news LIVE Updates

The Karnataka cabinet had stated a decision regarding water sharing with Tamil Nadu will be made on September 26 during the next meeting of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. Pro-Kannada organisations and farmer associations jointly called for a Bengaluru bandh (shutdown) on September 26 to protest against the Karnataka government's decision. They are also planning to conduct a Karnataka bandh on the same day and a decision regarding the same will be taken in a meeting which is scheduled for today, reported HT.

Read all news stories here

The bandh was called by Kurubur Shanthakumar who is the president of Karnataka Water Conservation Committee. He announced the Bengaluru bandh over the Cauvery issue on September 26 (Tuesday). While pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, independently called for bandh on September 25. After a meeting, they decided to make a final announcement on September 25, but Shanthakumar maintained his call for the bandh on September 26.

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Shanthakumar appealed to schools, colleges, IT companies and the film chamber to declare a holiday in support of the bandh. He also demanded that the state government convene a special assembly session to address the Cauvery water dispute. A protest march is scheduled from Town Hall to Mysuru Bank Circle at 11 am on September 26. He said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also expressed support for the bandh.

Taxi Services

Tanveer Pasha, President of the Ola Uber Drivers' and Owners' Association, announced their support for the bandh, confirming that drivers would stay off the roads on Tuesday in solidarity with the protest. He said, “There will be no compromise when it comes to land, language and water. Without any second thoughts, we support the bandh."

Also read: ‘Economically dominant countries weaponize production capabilities’: Jaishankar

Airport taxi services are likely to be impacted, but Namma Metro services will continue to operate as usual by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

Essential services such as hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and government offices will remain open.

Government-operated Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) also expressed support for the bandh and will suspend their services.

The Kannada film industry has shown solidarity with the bandh and movie theatres in the city are expected to remain closed.

Restaurants

While restaurants expressed their moral support for the bandh, they are considered essential services and will remain open on Tuesday, reported Times Now.

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Complete Bengaluru Bandh on September 26: What is Open, What is Closed ?

Updated Sep 25, 2023, 18:25 IST

Bangalore Bandh on September 26: What is Open, What is Closed ?

What will be open?

• Hospitals, Nursing Homes, medical shops and emergency services, Government offices.
• Namma Metro Services will stay operational during Bangalore Bandh on Tuesday.
• Hotels and restaurants may stay open as Hotels Association has withdrawn its support to the bandh tomorrow and would be extending support to the bandh on 29th instead.
• Ola, Uber, and autos will operate normally as Ola Uber Drivers' and Owners' Association have opted to participate in the statewide shutdown and have withdrawn from the Bengaluru shutdown

What will be closed?

• All shops, commercial establishments, industries, street vendors, theatres, malls and multiplexes, goods vehicles.
• Schools closed? The Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) has lent moral support to the bandh and said that it will take a call on declaring a holiday to schools on Monday.
• Karnataka State Travel Operators Association has also expressed its support for the Bandh call.
• KSMA (Karnataka State Motorists Association) has also extended Support for Bandhs on Sept 26, 29.

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Bengaluru News Highlights: Employees union calls off strike after Karnataka govt announces interim hike

Bengaluru news today highlights: the employees have put forward their demands including, the implementation of the seventh pay commission report and implementation of at least 40 per cent of fitment facilities, and reverting to the old pension scheme..

Bengaluru News Highlights: Karnataka government employees union calls off an indefinite strike that began today morning after the state government announced an interim hike. The Karnataka government has agreed to a 17 per cent hike in basic pay as interim relief. The government has promised to look into the implementation of the 7th pay commission. A committee will be formed for looking at a demand by the employees for reverting to the Old Pension Scheme.

Senior JD(S) leader H D Devegowda has been admitted to the hospital. Assuring that there’s no need to panic, the former prime minister tweeted that he is in the hospital for a routine checkup and will return home in a few days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled projects worth Rs 6,300 crore in Karnataka yesterday, including the new Shivmogga Airport. The Prime Minister dedicated the redeveloped Belagavi Railway Station building to the nation.

Bengaluru News Highlights: Follow this space for the latest updates from Bengaluru, Karnataka

With weeks left for polling in Karnataka, BJP president J P Nadda launched the first of the party’s four Rath Yatras at Male Mahadeshwara Hills near Chamarajanagar on Wednesday. The yatras—three of which will be flagged off in the next three days—will travel to the state’s different parts and reach out to voters.

This marks the second phase of campaigning by the saffron party, which organised several Jana Sankalpa Yatras in the past couple of months in various districts. The Rath Yatras, according to the BJP, will travel to all the 224 constituencies and are expected to travel around 8,000 km. Read more.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will put on hold the expansion of its Rapid Road project as the technology partner has not paid the consultancy fee to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), which was engaged to do a feasibility study after a pilot project developed cracks at Indiranagar. Read more.

To counter Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s allegation that the Congress always insulted its senior leaders  from Karnataka, the party has sought to remind him how B S Yediyurappa “shed tears in public” when he had to quit as chief minister in 2021, and also recalled the income tax raids on his family members.

On a visit to the state on February 27, Modi told a rally at Belagavi that he had felt that the Congress had hated Karnataka because it had “insulted” prominent leaders from the state who were not loyal to the Gandhi family. “It is known that (former CMs) S Nijalingappa and Veerendra Patil were insulted. Recently, at the Congress plenary session, it insulted senior leader and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge,” he said, adding that he was saddened by such acts. Read more.

In light of soaring temperatures in several states, on February 28, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan directed the chief secretaries of all the states and union territories to address the impact of heat and management of illnesses due to it.

In this regard, the Karnataka health department has sought inputs of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to manage heat-related illnesses. Read more.

After the successful launch of Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) first space observatory, AstroSat, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) is working on the next generation, ultra-violet (UV) telescope called Indian Spectroscopic and Imaging Space Telescope (INSIST). This telescope will look at galaxies at a high resolution. The telescope is at a pre-project phase, and, once approved, is expected to be completed and launched in seven years. Read more.

The following trains are cancelled, partially cancelled, diverted and regulated due to engineering works for commissioning Saunshi Phase-II, in view of Chikjajur - Hubballi section doubling as detailed below:

PARTIAL CANCELLATION:

1.    Train No. 12079 KSR Bengaluru – SSS Hubballi Daily Jan Shatabdi Express leaving from KSR Bengaluru from March 2 to 4, 2023 will be partially cancelled between Ranibennur & SSS Hubbalii (which was earlier notified for partially cancelled between Harihar – SSS Hubballi) and this train is short terminated at Ranibennur.

2.    Train No. 12080 SSS Hubballi – KSR Bengaluru Daily Jan Shatabdi Express leaving from SSS Hubballi from March 2 to 4, 2023 will be partially cancelled between SSS Hubballi and Ranibennur (which was earlier notified for partially cancelled between SSS Hubballi and Harihar) and it will be originated from Ranibennur its schedule departure time.

3.    Train No. 17326 Mysuru – Belagavi Vishwamanava Daily Express leaving from Mysuru on March 2 to 4, 2023 will be partially cancelled between Birur & Belagavi.  Accordingly, this train will end its journey at Birur instead of Belagavi.

4.    Train No. 17325 Belagavi – Mysuru Vishwamanava Daily Express leaving from Belagavi on March 2 to 4, 2023 will be partially cancelled between Belagavi & Birur.  Accordingly, this train will start its journey from Birur instead of Belagavi.

5.    Train No. 12778 Kochuveli – SSS Hubballi Weekly Superfast Express leaving from Kochuveli on March 2, 2023 will be partially cancelled between Ranibennur – SSS Hubballi and it will be short-terminated at Ranibennur.

REGULATION:

1.    Train No. 11006 Puducherry – Dadar Chalukya Tri-weekly Express starting from Puducherry on March 1, 2023 will be regulated for 130 minutes en route. which was earlier notified for regulated for 70 minutes en route)

2.    Train No. 11022 Tirunelveli – Dadar Tri-weekly Express starting from Tirunelveli on March 3, 2023 will be regulated for 130 minutes en route. (which was earlier notified for regulated for 70 minutes en route)

Congress workers on Wednesday in Bengaluru staged a protest against hike of cooking gas price and demanded a reduction in the price.

Hours after the start of an indefinite strike called by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association (KSGEA), the state government succumbed to the pressure and announced a hike in basic pay of employees by 17 per cent as interim relief. Also, the state government has formed a committee to look into the demands of reverting to the Old Pension Scheme. The interim relief will come into effect from April 1, 2023. Read more.

Former Bengaluru City police commissioner Bhaskar Rao joined the BJP on Wednesday after leaving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and said that he had a lot to learn from seasoned BJP politicians in the state and was impressed at the importance given to women and youth leaders.

Speaking after being inducted by BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, the former vice-president of the Karnataka AAP unit said that his past criticism against the BJP administration in the state was “not against any individual persons”. Read more.

BJP national president JP Nadda along with other leaders inaugurated the party’s ambitious Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra from the well-known pilgrim centre MM Hills in Chamarajnagar district today.

Karnataka government employees union calls off an indefinite strike that began today morning after the state government announced an interim hike. 

Karnataka Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rohini Sindhuri filed a criminal defamation suit against Indian Police Service (IPS) officer D Roopa Tuesday, days after she had issued a legal notice to the police officer demanding an  unconditional apology for the allegations  levelled against her.

A city magistrate court has posted the hearing for March 3. In the legal notice, dated February 21, Sindhuri sought an “unconditional apology in writing” and Rs 1 crore in damages “for the loss of reputation and mental agony” caused by Roopa’s allegations.  ( Read more )

Karnataka government employees union calls off an indefinite strike that began on Wednesday morning after the state government announces an interim hike.

The Karnataka government has agreed to a 17 per cent hike in basic pay as interim relief. The government has promised to look into the implementation of the 7th pay commission. A committee will be formed for looking at a demand by the employees for reverting to the Old Pension Scheme.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) budget 2023-24 will be presented tomorrow at 11.30 am. The budget will be presented by BBMP Special Commissioner for Finance, Jayaram Raipura.

The Karnataka government announced that they will provide a 17 per cent hike on basic pay as interim relief. The government has promised to look into the implementation of the 7th pay commission. A committee will be formed to revert to the Old Pension Scheme.

A 25-year-old woman was stabbed to death Tuesday evening in Bengaluru after she refused the marriage proposal of a man citing caste differences. The incident took place around 7.30 pm near the Omega Healthcare office in the Murugeshpalya area of the city.

The deceased has been identified as Leela Pavithra, who belonged to Andhra Pradesh. The police have arrested the accused Dinakar, 28, who is also from Andhra Pradesh. ( Read more )

Speaking on the strike, Karnataka government employees association president CS Shadakshari said: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that he will take a decision after meeting the officials. We have conveyed our message to him. He has sought time and we have not withdrawn the protest. If we do not get a positive response from the government, we will go ahead with an indefinite protest.

A single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court has ruled that the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, being an advisory body, cannot adjudicate or rule on an adversarial pleading. The case, regarding the custody of a child, was heard before Justice Jyoti Mulimani and the order was passed on February 3.

The petitioner said the matter began in July 2016 when the respondent, her husband, had allegedly assaulted her and taken away their child, and was handed back on the intervention of the police. The petitioner also said when the child was in school in January of the following year, the child was again taken away for four months. A complaint was also filed before the police in this case, and the petitioner then approached the State Commission, which granted certain visitation rights to the respondent.  ( Read more )

Former commissioner of Bengaluru and AAP leader Bhaskar Rao joined BJP on Wednesday, reports the news agency ANI .

Karnataka | Former commissioner of Bengaluru and AAP leader Bhaskar Rao joins BJP, in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/o1TdIGfUve — ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2023

While Karnataka State Government Employees Association is all set to observe a strike demanding to fulfil their demands, CM Basavaraj Bommai is holding a meeting with finance department officials on the issue.

Though no conclusion was reached in a meeting held between members of the association and CM Bommai on Tuesday night, the Chief Minister said that the association members have conveyed their grievances and he will look into the matter after holding discussions with the officials.

Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao is likely to join the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls in Karnataka, PTI reported. Rao currently holds the post of Chairman of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Manifesto Committee, 

According to sources, the former IPS officer met state's Revenue Minister R Ashoka and held discussions today, reported PTI.

Senior JD(S) leader H D Devegowda has been admitted to hospital. Assuring that there’s no need to panic, the former prime minister tweeted that he is in hospital for routine checkup and will return home in a few days. “I have come to the hospital for a routine check up. There is no need for any panic or anxiety. I will be back home in a couple of days,” he wrote.

I have come to the hospital for a routine check up. There is no need for any panic or anxiety. I will be back home in a couple of days. — H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) February 28, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the much-awaited Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway on March 12. A preliminary meeting regarding the PM's March 12 visit to Katnataka was held at the BJP office in Bengaluru, Union minister Pralhad Joshi tweeted.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived in Banglore on Tuesday evening to attend various programmes in the city. Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot extended a warm welcome to the Vice President.

Five organs of a 44-year-old brain-dead road accident victim have been harvested at Kasturba Hospital at Manipal in Karnataka's Udupi district.

The liver of the victim was sent to the recipient admitted at a private hospital in Bengaluru and one kidney was sent to a patient in a hospital in Mangaluru. One kidney, corneas, and skin were retained by Kasturba hospital, Manipal for the registered patients, KMC hospital medical superintendent Avinash Shetty said in a release on Monday.  (PTI)

The Bengaluru police Monday arrested a 32-year-old unemployed man who allegedly hired two contract killers to murder his father over a property dispute.

P N Narayana Swamy, 70, was killed outside his apartment in Marathahalli on February 13 by two assailants who allegedly attacked him with a machete before fleeing the scene. Swamy’s wife Ashwathamma filed a complaint with the police, and Manikanta was the only eyewitness to the murder.  ( Read more )

The interim report of the 7th Pay Commission will be sought and implemented for which the money has been earmarked in the state budget, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

He told reporters in Hubballi on Tuesday that the government has accepted the demand of the government employees to revise their pay after seeking the interim report. The commission will be instructed immediately to submit its interim report and the government is ready to implement it.

The CM said instructions are given to DG &IGP to strengthen City Armed Reserve police.

Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar says PM Narendra Modi paying lip service to former CM B S Yediyurappa after sidelining the Lingayat leader.

A 22-year-old MBBS student in Karnataka allegedly died by suicide in the hostel where he lived. The incident was reported on Tuesday morning at around 7.30 am. 

The deceased has been identified as Tulasi Das, a native of Chitguppa of Bidar district. Tulasi Das was studying at the Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS). The preliminary probe revealed that a year ago, exactly on the same day, Tulasi Das's father had died due to ill health conditions. A police officer said that the preliminary probe revealed that he was attending practical examinations and looked tense for the past week. 

New town police have registered a case of unnatural death and probe underway.

Here's what the Bengaluru Meteorological Centre predicts.

For 24 hours: Mainly clear sky. Mist is very likely during early morning hours in some areas. Surface winds are likely to be strong at times. Maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely to be around 30 and 16 degrees Celsius respectively.

For 48 hours: Mainly clear sky. Mist is very likely during early morning hours in some areas. Surface winds are likely to be strong at times. Maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely to be around 31 and 16 degrees Celsius respectively.

Traffic diversions are in effect again on Old Madras Road due to continued white topping work between the 100 Feet Road junction and Lakshmipuram junction.

Vehicles will be diverted via 100 Feet road and the CMH Road. Traffic congestion is expected on CMH Road and surrounding areas in Indiranagar, Halasoor traffic police limits in East Bengaluru.

The Whitefield Traffic Police has issued an advisory warning of slow-moving traffic along the Siddhapura - Thubharahalli route. 

'Traffic Advisory' ????????? - ?????????????? BWSSB ???? ????????????? ??????. 28.2.2023, ?????? ????? ???????????????????? ??????????? ???????? ???????. Tomorrow 28.2.23, Slow Moving Traffic Expected Siddhapura - Thubharahalli with the ongoing BWSSB work. Contd... — WHITEFIELD TRAFFIC PS BTP (@wftrps) February 27, 2023

In an initiative to enhance legal skills of Army Officers, the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Shimla at the Institute of Military Law, Delhi Cantonment. 

As part of this MoU, NLSIU will offer training to 150 officers of the Indian Army for three years on Cyber Laws and Legal Studies in collaboration with the Army Management Services Board (AMSB).

The MoU was signed by Maj Gen V. M. Chandran, MGGS (Doctrine), HQ ARTRAC and NLSIU Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy in the presence of Lt Gen SS Mahal, General Officer Commanding-in Chief, ARTRAC.

The brand-new airport at Shivamogga, modelled after a lotus, was probably the last major contribution to the Karnataka city by former chief minister B S Yediyurappa as an elected representative.

On Monday, all roads from the city, major towns and villages of Shivamogga district led to the airport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to coincide with the Lingayat strongman’s 80th birthday. Read more

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has passed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Amendment) Bill 2023, which proposes to do away with a penalty on unauthorised or illegal properties within the municipal limits.

With the amendment on Wednesday, over 6.16 lakh owners of B Khata properties in Bengaluru will be exempted from paying double tax. With just a few months left for the Assembly elections, the government’s move is seen as aimed at wooing voters. Read more

(Express Photos by Jithendra M)

Hip-hop collective Wanandaf along with Dakhnistan Studios and Yuvashakti Karnataka recently organised the first cypher of Bengaluru Rural district in Nelamangala town.

Cypher in hip-hop culture refers to a gathering among rappers, beatboxers and breakers who have freestyle sessions together. Usually, in a circle, each rapper takes turns to show off their skills and then the next person carries on the performance. Read more

Amazing Belagavi! Have a look… pic.twitter.com/xmfr1Q6dN8 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2023

Taking a dig at the Congress and dynasty politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said that Mallikarjun Kharge was only a namesake president of the Congress as the organisation was still controlled by the Gandhis.

Modi also warned the people of Karnataka to be “cautious about parties like the Congress”. “Congress thinks until Modi is alive their motives won’t survive and that is why they all are saying  mar ja Modi, mar ja Modi…  (Die Modi, die) and some are saying  Modi teri kabad khudegi  (Modi, your grave will be dug) but the country is saying  Modi tera Kamal khilega (Modi, the lotus will bloom),” he added. Read more

#WATCH | Karnataka: Mallikarjun Kharge has served the public in whatever way possible...I was disheartened to see how the most senior leader, the president of Congress has been disrespected by them...The world knows who has the remote control: PM Narendra Modi in Belagavi pic.twitter.com/Du4ytHf57X — ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023

After a pack of dogs mauled a five-year-old in Telangana, Karnataka BJP MP Pratap Simha said the stray dog menace could be solved if the media kept silent, drawing condemnation from animal lovers.

Speaking to the media, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha said last week, “You stop reporting and remain silent on stray dogs and allow us to take some action to resolve the stray dog problem. We are unable to take any action because of animal lovers. They realise the problem when stray dogs bite their children. Feeding stray dogs will not bring any good and it is not as big a social service as they try to project it as.” Read more

A 33-year-old man has been arrested in Karnataka for allegedly killing his wife after she suspected him of having an affair with another woman. He was caught while trying to dump the body stuffed into a barrel, police said Monday.

The woman is identified as Shantha Kumari (38) and the accused is her husband, Tukaram Appanna, both residents of Haliyal taluk in Uttara Kannada district. The crime took place on the night of February 22 when Tukaram and Shantha fought over his alleged extramarital affair, according to police. Shantha had divorced her first husband and married Tukaram, a photographer who was five years younger to her. Read more

With Assembly polls in Karnataka round the corner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive road show in Belagavi, waving at a large number of enthusiastic crowd, who had lined up on both sides of the route.

The Prime Minister is in Belagavi to lay the foundation stone and dedicate multiple development initiatives, and also to release the 13th instalment of PM-KISAN worth more than Rs 16,800 crores. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme launched by the Centre in 2019, all landholding farmer families in the country are provided income support of Rs 6,000 in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each, every four months.  (PTI) 

A pre-university student died after allegedly falling from the 11th floor of an apartment building in Bengaluru Sunday in what the police suspect to be a case of suicide.

Officers identified the deceased as Prakruthi, 18, a resident of Sanjaynagar and a student of Sophia College in the city. Investigation revealed that the Class 12 student is the daughter of a software engineer. Read more

Battling a corruption campaign against it ahead of the Assembly polls in May, the Karnataka BJP is attempting to turn the tables on the Congress by raking up a 2017 report on an alleged residential land scam during former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s tenure.

The report talks about illegal denotification of land in Arkavathy Layout in Bengaluru. The Congress government, it says, allowed the release of government property to private persons with “re-do” of 852 acres of land. The denotification process is estimated to have amounted to Rs 8,000 crore in land value. Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth more than Rs 3,600 crore in Shivamogga, Karnataka.

He inaugurated the Shivamogga Airport and took a walk-through of the facilities on Monday.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for two railway projects, multiple road development projects to be developed at a cumulative cost of more than Rs 215 crore and multi-village schemes worth more than Rs 950 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

He also inaugurated 44 Smart City projects worth more than Rs 895 crores in Shivamogga.

???????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????. ???? ????? ?????????? ????????? ??????????. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/LEOhprPfA7 — Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) February 27, 2023

“Those wearing ‘hawai chappals’ should travel in ‘hawai jahaz’ (aircraft). I’m seeing it happening”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he highlighted that India’s aviation market is growing rapidly.

Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating the Shivamogga airport, he said in the coming days India will need thousands of aircraft, and the days of Made-in-India passenger aircraft are not far.

Aam Aadmi Party workers in Bengaluru staged protest against the Central government over the arrest of Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. The police detained the AAP workers.

On the occasion of 93rd martyrdom day of Chandrashekar Azad, AIDSO Bengaluru district committee observed the day in many institutions like UVCE, BMC, SKSJTI, RC and many more such colleges and schools. Hundreds of students were part of this and paid their respects by garlanding the potrait and pledged to build a society where there is no exploitation.

At this hour of rampant cultural degradation, growing social injustices, AIDSO feels bringing back the great ideals of Chandrashekar Azad, Bhagath singh, Netaji, Vivekananda and many such people stands as an immediate necessity.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets former CM and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa at the inauguration of Shivamogga Airport. BS Yediyurappa is also celebrating his 80th birthday today. pic.twitter.com/bEUe2f4iIc — ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023

Speaking on the sidelines of the event at Shivamogga, Modi said that the expansion of air travel in India is because of the policies and decisions of the BJP government. He added that in 2014, the country had only 74 airports. Accoridng to him, in the last nine years 74 new airports have been built.

PM Modi, drawing similarities between a vehicle and a government, said that when either is fitted with a double-engine, its speed increases manifold. 

He added that when the state's development was discussed earlier, it was limited to big cities but now the government is working to bring development to the villages, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Narendra Modi said that the long-standing demand of a Shivamogga airport was now fulfilled. He added that this was a result of a combination of Karnataka's tradition and technology.

Speaking along the lines of the Shivamogga event, PM Modi said that he extends his wishes to Yediyurappa on his birthday. He said that the BJP leader has always worked for the welfare of the poor.

Former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Yediurappa said Modi had told him that the airport at Shivamogga will be inaugurated on his birthday.

"We are happy that Narendra Modi has come Shivamogga to inaugurate the airport. He had told me that airport will be inauguated on my birthday and will attend the event. I thank him for it", said Yediyurappa.

B S Yediyurapa, in a tweet, had said that the soon-to-be inaugurated Shivamogga airport will be a dream come true for people of the Malnad region.

The airport at Shivamogga is a dream come true for the people of Malnad region. It will boost connectivity, tourism, industry and propel Karnataka's growth. Completed in a record time, the airport will be inaugurated by our Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji tomorrow. @JM_Scindia pic.twitter.com/uqNKVgk8Xc — B.S.Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) February 26, 2023

Lauding India’s competence in digitisation, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Sunday endorsed an exchange of specialists with India, saying the European country could “greatly benefit from the exchange”.

#Indien ist eine Hightech-Nation, mit enormer Kompetenz in der Digitalisierung. Das hat mich beeindruckt, etwa bei SAP in Bengaluru, der zweiten Station meiner Indien-Reise. Als starkes und offenes Land kann DEU vom Austausch - insbesondere auch von Fachkräften - sehr profitieren pic.twitter.com/BRlhu58OxF — Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) February 26, 2023

Movie makers in Karnataka show interest in bringing IPS vs IAS officers’ spat to silver screen

While the bitter public spat between IPS officer D Roopa and IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri in Karnataka is yet to reach a logical end, Kannada directors have shown interest in directing a movie based on the episode. Two directors have already approached the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to register titles of movies purportedly based on the plot.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, KFCC president Ba Ma Harish said: “Producer Praveen Shetty has come up with two titles… one of them is Rohini IAS and director Nithyananda Prabhu has approached the KFCC to register the title R vs R. Both have filed applications but we will bring the issue before the committee before taking a decision.”

The row between the two officers began recently when Roopa levelled 19 allegations, including corruption charges, against Sindhuri. Later, Sindhuri and Rohini both filed complaints before Karnataka chief secretary Vandita Sharma. Rohini also approached the court which issued a temporary injunction against 59 media organisations and IPS officer Roopa from publishing and broadcasting defamatory content about Rohini Sindhuri. The state government also transferred both officers without giving any postings.

Book showcasing 100 Karnataka Muslim women achievers launched

The Karnataka edition of Rising Beyond The Ceiling (RBTC) book was launched in Bengaluru Saturday by Dr Farah Usmani, international health and development expert. The book showcases stories of 100 Muslim women achievers in 15 fields ranging from education to sports and civil services to entrepreneurship.

According to Usmani, author of the book, the RBTC initiative aims to change the stereotypical notions about Muslim women in India and shine a spotlight on their significant contribution to nation-building.

Speaking about the objective behind RBTC, Dr Usmani said: “Stereotypes of Muslim women in India entrenched in…  triple talaq , multiple marriages have held them hostage for so long, it is commonplace to view Muslim women in India and also globally as a monolith category even though they are highly heterogeneous. The RBTC was born out of the need to change the stereotypical narrative about Muslim women in India. I believe that we must put forward and proactively build our own narrative and not always respond to misconceptions and misinterpretations.”

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Middle East turmoil

May 17, 2024 Israel-Hamas war

By Leinz Vales, Deva Lee, Adrienne Vogt, Aditi Sangal, Tori B. Powell and Chris Lau, CNN

Our live coverage for the day has ended. Follow  the latest Israel-Hamas war news  or read through the updates below.

Israel recovers bodies of 3 hostages. Here's what you should know

From CNN staff

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)  recovered the bodies of three hostages  in the Gaza Strip, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a news conference in Tel Aviv Friday. 

The hostages were identified as  Shani Louk , Amit Bouskila, and Itshak Gelernter, Hagari said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed grief over the hostages, saying "the heart breaks for the great loss." Louk's family said they have closure now that her body has been recovered.

Here are other headlines you should know:

Developments on the ground

Hamas' military wing Al Qassam Brigades said a commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon's West Bekaa area, near the Syrian border, on Friday.

• Also, the IDF said it carried out an airstrike on "an operations center" in Jenin, in the West Bank, Friday and killed "a significant wanted" militant.

Humanitarian aid

• Trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza began moving ashore Friday via a  temporary pier built by the US  military, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM). The pier was anchored to a beach in Gaza on Thursday and will be used to funnel aid from various countries into the besieged strip, with most border crossings to the enclave closed and a catastrophic humanitarian disaster unfolding inside.

Official meetings

• US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Saudi Arabia and Israel over the weekend, according to a US official, as  ceasefire and hostage negotiations have stalled  and Israel continues to threaten to intensify its military operations in Rafah. He will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their respective countries, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

Calls from the United Nations

• A panel of UN experts said Friday that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was “politically targeted” as it voiced disappointment over some countries not reinstating their funding weeks after an  independent review  cleared the agency.

Doctors leaving Gaza

• Seventeen of the 20 American doctors who were stuck in Gaza after Israel shut the border crossing from Rafah to Egypt have safely departed  the enclave, Kirby said Friday.
• Aid organizations will face challenges getting doctors back into Gaza following the departure of the American doctors, according to sources familiar with the efforts to help the doctors escape.

The wife of a doctor describes her husband's "survivor's guilt" after deciding to leave Gaza

From CNN's Betsy Klein

Dr. Mahmoud Sabha was among the American doctors  who were evacuated after being trapped in Gaza this week after Israel's military offensive in Rafah shuttered a critical border crossing where they were planning to exit.  

Sabha, 39, a Dallas-based doctor who specializes in wound care, was on his second humanitarian trip to Gaza that was supposed to end last Monday. 

His wife, Dr. Samaiya Mushtaq, learned his plans to leave were on hold last Friday afternoon in a voicemail. 

"He said we're not leaving on Monday and I remember listening to it and just responding, 'No - no, no, no,'" she told CNN in a phone interview. 

She described an intensely emotional week amid the uncertainty: "I didn't think this would be morally or legally allowed." 

Three of the American doctors stayed behind on Friday as 17 were able to evacuate. 

Early Friday morning, her husband contacted her to say there was the possibility of an evacuation. He called again when he had reached the border and was in Jerusalem Friday evening eastern time. 

"It's been emotionally complex because there's a lot of guilt," she said of her husband's decision to leave.  "The survivors' guilt is much more pronounced because there's no mission coming after him," she said. 

Still, she said, "I think he'd go back. I think the call to help this incredibly vulnerable population is a humanitarian call. He would go back if there were an opportunity to rebuild the hospital systems." 

IDF says it killed "significant wanted" militant in West Bank

From CNN's Kareem Khadder, Eyad Kourdi and Mohammed Tawfeeq

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they carried out an airstrike on "an operations center" in Jenin, in the West Bank, on Friday and killed "a significant wanted" militant.

The IDF said in a statement that militant Islam Khamaysa was a senior operative in the Jenin Camp, responsible for numerous attacks in the area.

Al Quds Brigade, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, confirmed the killing of Islam Khamaysa in a statement on Friday, saying he was a leader of the Jenin Brigade.

The Jenin Brigade is a faction affiliated with the wider Islamic Jihad group.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said eight people were also injured in the airstrike and evacuated to two separate hospitals in the West Bank.

Family of hostage Shani Louk says recovery of her body gives them closure

From CNN's Eliza Talmadge 

The family of Israeli hostage Shani Louk , whose body Israel announced on Friday was recovered from Gaza , said they have closure now that her body has been recovered.

In a statement given to CNN, the family said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) came to their house on Friday and informed them that they were able to rescue Louk's body from a tunnel in Gaza and bring her back to Israel.

"Every news like this brings us back to the horrific moment we had to find out that our loving daughter was brutally murdered by Hamas on the 7th of October. However, it is also a relief to get the body back and we are now able to bury her close by. It gives us some kind of closure," the family said. "We want to remember Shani as the beautiful and peace-loving person she was, who loved music, dancing and life. She brought us and many other people in the world light and the belief in good. This is how we choose to remember Shani," the statement read.

It will be a challenge to backfill the 17 American doctors who departed Gaza, sources say

From CNN's Kylie Atwood

Aid organizations will face challenges getting doctors back into Gaza following the departure of 17 of the 20 American doctors who were stuck there  after Israel shut the border crossing from Rafah to Egypt.

Sources familiar with the efforts to help the American doctors escape said that backfilling them remains a major concern, largely because the Rafah crossing remains closed after the Israeli military seized it early last week.

Remember: The crossing – when it was operating — was the only entry and exit point for foreign aid workers. Israeli and Egyptian officials have so far failed to reach an agreement on reopening it.

One of the doctors who decided to stay behind is Dr. Adam Hamawy, who helped save Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s life 20 years ago in Iraq, according to a source familiar with the matter. Hamawy traveled to Gaza with the Palestinian American Medical Association and did not feel right leaving without other doctors coming in to take over, the source said. 

Many members of Congress, including Duckworth, are working with the Biden administration to push Israel to do more to get aid and humanitarian workers into Gaza, and to get the protections needed for those workers. Earlier this week, a top USAID official said that Israel was not doing enough to ensure the safety of aid works.

"The deconfliction measures are not where they need to be yet, given the complexity of the environment. So those conversations are ongoing, they need to continue and they need to get to a place where humanitarian aid workers feel safe and secure and able to operate safely. And I don't think we're there yet,” said Sonali Korde, assistant to the administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, noting that Gaza is a “very dangerous place to work.”

CNN's Jeremy Diamond and Muhammad Darwish contributed to this story.

Hamas' military wing says commander killed in Israeli airstrike in Lebanon

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq and Eugenia Yosef

Sharhabil Ali Al-Sayyid, also known as "Abu Amr" was killed "after he was targeted by Israeli occupation aircraft," Hamas' military wing Al Qassam Brigades said in a statement.

The Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) confirmed in a statement Friday it killed Al-Sayyid in an airstrike, but described him as "a senior commander of the Jamaa Islamiya" in Lebanon "who cooperated with Hamas against Israel."

The IDF said Al-Sayyid "promoted numerous terror attacks from Lebanon against Israel in the eastern arena recently, as well as in cooperation with Hamas' wing in Lebanon."

17 American doctors who were stuck in Gaza have safely departed, White House says

Seventeen of the 20 American doctors who were stuck in Gaza after Israel shut the border crossing from Rafah to Egypt have safely departed the enclave, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Friday.

“They’re out. There was 20 American doctors, 17 are out now, came out today. And all 17, they wanted to, they wanted to leave — I won't speak for the other three, but just, I can assure you that any of them that wanted to leave are out now,” Kirby said. 

The Americans who made their way out did so with the support of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, said a State Department spokesperson. “We have been in close contact with the groups that these US doctors are part of, and we have been in contact with the families of these US citizens,” the spokesperson added. 

The three American doctors who opted not to depart Gaza did so understanding that the US Embassy may not be able to facilitate their departure in the same manner, the source familiar said. They added that it “was an extremely unique operation.”

The Embassy team traveled to Kerem Shalom crossing to receive the doctors at the border, the source added, without providing details about how the doctors traveled to the border crossing.

Here's where the crossing is located:

UN panel calls for all member states to resume funding UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees

From CNN’s Kareem El Damanhoury and Richard Roth

A panel of UN experts said Friday that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was “politically targeted” as it voiced disappointment over some countries not reinstating their funding weeks after an independent review cleared the agency.

“The independent review ordered by the UN Secretary-General, following an increase of allegations since the onset of the military assault on Gaza in October 2023, has shown that the claim that significant numbers of UNRWA employees have ties with ‘terrorist organisations’ remains unsubstantiated,” the experts said in a  statement  on Friday.

Earlier this year, Israel accused at least 12 UNRWA staffers of being involved in Hamas' October 7 attacks and has alleged that about 12% of the agency's 13,000 staffers are members of Hamas or other Palestinian militant groups. Last month, the independent review found that UNRWA’s neutrality must be strengthened and that its facilities were sometimes misused, but noted that Israel did not provide supporting evidence for its allegations.

“UNRWA remains pivotal in providing life-saving humanitarian aid and essential social services, particularly in health and education, to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank,” the review said, adding that the agency is "irreplaceable and indispensable to Palestinians’ human and economic development.”

As of April 30, funding to UNRWA from nine states was still frozen, according to a UN  statement .

With previous reporting from CNN’s Tim Lister

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French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to the Pacific island of New Caledonia on Tuesday, a government spokesperson said, just over a week after riots erupted in the French overseas territory, killing six.

Human rights group Asylum Aid said on Tuesday it had filed a legal challenge to Britain's policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

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Emirates plane kills 36 flamingoes in single bird strike incident in India

Flamingoes, a protected migratory species in india, were flying west of mumbai airport when the incident occurred, article bookmarked.

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At least 36 protected flamingoes have been killed in a single bird strike incident in western India involving an Emirates Boeing 777.

The Dubai-Mumbai flight EK-508 was flying over the outskirts of India’s financial capital with over 300 passengers on board when it collided with the flock shortly before landing.

The Emirates crew reported the bird strike incident upon arrival at Mumbai at 9.18pm local time (3.48pm GMT) on Monday.

The accident occurred in the suburban Ghatkopar area, when the plane was preparing for landing, approximately six kilometres away from the international airport. Some 310 passengers were onboard.

The plane is reported to have suffered some damage in the incident but made a routine landing at Mumbai airport. The aircraft remained grounded there on Tuesday.

After the incident, locals reported that the site was littered with bird carcasses with broken pieces of wings, claws and beaks strewn across a large suburban area.

Officials from the Maharashtra Forest Department recovered the scattered remains of many of the birds and a search has been launched to find out if more flamingos were killed. The toll of 36 dead may yet rise.

“The carcasses have been sent for an autopsy to find the exact cause of their death,” Pawan Sharma, founder of the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), told the Press Trust of India news agency.

A local activist suggested the birds may have been flying on an unusual trajectory because of disruption to the nearby Thane Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. Environmentalist D Stalin from the NGO Vanshakti told the Hindustan Times newspaper that “the new power lines through the sanctuary area are causing disorientation to the birds”.

“While giving permissions for power lines (earlier, it was not allowed inside sanctuaries) the wildlife board meekly surrendered to the power company. Instead, the Thane Creek Wildlife Sanctuary was bulldozed and towers erected,” he was quoted saying.

Thousands of flamingoes come to Mumbai in winter, but the birds and their habitat are threatened by rampant construction and encroachment of natural spaces in one of the world’s most populated cities.

India has the largest population of lesser flamingoes outside the African continent. Officials count the flamingoes every day for three days from October to May in order to maintain estimates of the country’s population.

Flamingoes are protected in India under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972. In 2018, the authorities in Mumbai designated almost 1,700 hectares of the shore and creek as a flamingo sanctuary. But there have been concerns over encroachment in the designated area and risks relating to construction nearby.

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Karnataka truck drivers to go on indefinite strike from January 17

Truck drivers, taxi and bus operators started a nationwide strike to oppose the provision of ₹7 lakh penalty and 10-year jail term for hit and run cases..

Truck drivers across Karnataka will go on an indefinite strike starting from January 17, announced the Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ Association on Saturday. The strike is to protest against the stringent laws for hit-and-run cases under the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS)

Also Read - Bengaluru's Phoenix Mall of Asia and authorities to tackle traffic together: Report

Speaking to reporters, C Naveen Reddy, president of the Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ Association, said, “Though the union government called us for discussions on this unruly law, the officials have not given anything in writing. This is a unilateral decision by the union government, and they did not consult us before arriving at such a hasty decision.”

Reddy also said that all truck drivers in the state will support the strike and keep their vehicles off-road. “We already informed all the truck drivers in the state, and we will be going on a strike. All heavy vehicles will go off-road from January 17,” he added.

Truck drivers, taxi and bus operators started a nationwide strike to oppose the provision of ₹ 7 lakh penalty and 10-year jail term for hit-and-run cases under the newly passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The All-India Motor Transport Congress said that these provisions, which have yet to come into force, can lead to undue harassment and must be recalled with immediate effect.

However, on January 2, the All India Motor Transport Association (AIMTC) decided to end the nationwide truck drivers protests the new hit-and-run law, after a meeting with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. The government assured the members of the transport body that the new laws have not been implemented yet and will only be implemented after consultation with AIMTC.

IPL 2024 Coverage

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