New Delhi (PTI): IndiGo, which has been facing significant operational disruptions, on Thursday announced that it will offer travel vouchers worth Rs 10,000 to each passenger whose flights were cancelled or delayed for long during December 3-5.
The compensation would be in addition to the amount that needs to be provided to passengers for flight cancellations under DGCA norms.
In a statement, IndiGo said it regrettably acknowledges that part of its customers travelling on December 3, 4 and 5 were stranded for many hours at certain airports, and a number of them were severely impacted by congestion.
"We will offer travel vouchers worth Rs 10,000 to such severely impacted customers. These travel vouchers can be used for any future IndiGo journey for the next 12 months," it said.
The country's largest airline is also facing regulatory heat, and authorities have directed it to reduce winter schedule flights by 10 per cent to stabilise its operations. The carrier was operating around 2,300 flights a day till the disruptions began on December 2.
"This compensation is in addition to the commitment under the existing government guidelines, as per which, IndiGo will provide compensation of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 depending on the block time of the flight, to those customers whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of departure time," the statement said.
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Mangaluru: Kasturba Medical College (KMC) has filed a patent application for “Absorbent Pads” designed to address urinary incontinence among elderly women, a condition that remains largely underreported despite its widespread impact.
Urinary incontinence does not command urgency like a heart attack, nor does it evoke the same collective response as more visible illnesses. However, for those living with it, the burden is constant, intimate, and often isolating.
There is a gradual and often unspoken impact on daily life. It begins with hesitation, declining invitations, avoiding travel, and choosing silence over conversation. Over time, this can lead to withdrawal, where fear of embarrassment starts shaping everyday decisions. For many elderly women, dignity becomes tied to small, often invisible compromises, including limiting outings or adjusting routines.
What makes this condition particularly poignant is not just its prevalence, but its invisibility. It is endured, not expressed. Accepted, not addressed.
It is in this context that the recent innovation assumes importance. The team at KMC, which includes clinicians such as Dr Haroon Hussain, has approached the issue not merely from a technical standpoint but from the perspective of lived experience.
The proposed solution, biodegradable, antimicrobial absorbent pads with improved fluid control and reduced irritation, aims to go beyond basic functionality, addressing comfort, safety, and dignity.
The development also reflects the role of academic institutions in addressing everyday health challenges. When research focuses not only on major diseases but also on conditions that affect quality of life, it reinforces the broader purpose of healthcare.
However, experts note that innovation alone cannot fully address the issue. Urinary incontinence continues to be underreported, often dismissed as an inevitable consequence of ageing. Many women do not seek medical help, not due to a lack of solutions, but because of stigma and discomfort associated with discussing the condition.
This creates a paradox, a widespread issue that is often experienced in isolation.
Medical professionals emphasise that greater awareness and open conversations are essential. Families must learn to speak about such issues without embarrassment. Healthcare providers must create spaces where patients feel heard without judgment.
The significance of this innovation lies not only in its technical aspects but also in what it brings into focus, that even the most private discomforts deserve public attention.
The patent application was filed by a team comprising Dr. Haroon Hussain, Dr. Sameena, Dr. Ritu Raval of Manipal Institute of Technology, Syed Ayaan Hussain Rizvi, and Suzanne Riya Dsouza.
