Safety of Kannadigas in Middle East top priority: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the state government was closely monitoring the evolving situation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and was taking all steps to ensure the safety of Kannadigas residing in the region.
Siddaramaiah said he has held consultations with the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi and directed officials to take proactive measures to safeguard the people from the state living in the region.
“In light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the Government of Karnataka is treating with utmost seriousness the safety and well-being of Kannadigas residing in the Middle East, including Israel, the UAE, Iran, and Qatar,” he said in a post on 'X'.
A joint US-Israel military offensive against Iran has triggered fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Iran has launched retaliatory military strikes targeting Israel and American military bases across the region, including in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Siddaramaiah said those currently in conflict-affected areas and unable to return to India due to the closure of airspace in several countries are advised to relocate to safer zones at the earliest.
“I have instructed officials to operationalise a dedicated helpline from tomorrow to assist affected families,” he said.
“I urge family members not to panic if communication with their loved ones is temporarily disrupted. Please be assured that the safety of every Kannadiga is our foremost priority, and coordinated efforts are already underway in close liaison with the concerned authorities," he added.
According to Ballari Rural MLA and former minister B Nagendra 32 people from Ballari are presently stranded in Dubai, the chief minister said.
"Appropriate steps are being initiated to ensure their security and facilitate necessary assistance. We stand firmly committed to protecting our citizens and will continue to monitor the situation closely, responding with sensitivity, responsibility and resolve,” he added.
The Indian missions in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Palestine and Oman on Saturday issued advisories for its citizens urging them to “exercise utmost caution” and follow advisories issued by local authorities diligently.
Several missions also said it is in touch with Indian citizens stranded at the airport or at other places as the two airports at Dubai, the largest aviation hub, shut down and the UAE and Iraq closed their airspace, hours after the US-Israel joint attack on Iran escalated into a region-wide tension.
The Indian missions have also provided emergency contact details for any assistance.
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Total lunar eclipse on March 3 to be visible across India with totality from 4.34 pm to 5.33 pm
New Delhi: A total lunar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 which will begin at 3.20pm IST and end at 6.48pm IST, according to a notification published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
According to The Hindu, the eclipse will be visible from most parts of India. It's totality will occur between 4.34 and 5.33 p.m. IST, when the Moon is entirely immersed in the Earth's deepest shadow.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon during a full moon. It casts its shadow on the lunar surface. During totality, the Moon appears red due to a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering. During this phenomenon shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more strongly by the Earth’s atmosphere, allowing the longer red wavelengths to reach and illuminate the Moon.
According to the India Meteorological Department, most of the country will view the eclipse's last phase at moonrise. However, in areas of the Northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the end of the complete phase will be evident. Cities include Chennai and Kanniyakumari are anticipated to see the eclipse for up to 31 minutes.
There are three distinct forms of lunar eclipses. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon enters the Earth's umbra and may seem scarlet. A partial eclipse happens when a section of the Moon passes through the Earth's darkest shadow. A penumbral eclipse happens when the Moon crosses into the Earth's feeble outer shadow, resulting in a slight reducing that is occasionally difficult to see with the human eye.
The last lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on September 7-8, 2025, and it was also a total eclipse. The next partial lunar eclipse viewable from India will occur on July 6-7, 2028, with the next total lunar eclipse set for December 31, 2028.
