Air India Express flight to Mangaluru departs from Kuwait Airport after over 30-hour delay
Passengers express anguish over inconveniences
Kuwait: An Air India Express flight that was scheduled to fly from Kuwait International Airport to Mangaluru at 9 am (IST) on December 25 departed the airport at 3 pm (IST) on December 26, causing inconveniences to the passengers.
Passengers expressed anguish over the delay of more than 30 hours and asserted that they were ill-treated by the crew members at the airport.
One of the passengers, Mohammed Yusuf, who spoke to Vartha Bharati over a phone call, said there were about 150 passengers set to fly to Mangaluru on the flight who were inconvenienced by the delay.
“We arrived at the airport at 6 am on schedule and checked in. We were not informed about the delay in advance nor were we told about it when we arrived at the airport. We were later told the flight had not left for Kuwait from Mangaluru Airport itself while we were already waiting at the Kuwait Airport. This means the airline could’ve informed the passengers about the delay in advance.” Yusuf told Vartha Bharati.
Although the passengers were given a stay at the hotel after the completion of the immigration process, Yusuf said no one from the airline tried to approach them and give a clear picture on the situation.
“One of the passengers was going to attend his father’s funeral in Kerala. There were infants and newborns on the passengers' list, but the airline was least bothered about any of the inconveniences to the passengers.” He further added.
After a delay of more than 30 hours, the flight finally departed from Kuwait Airport on Monday at 3 pm (IST) and was expected to land at the Mangaluru International Airport at 7:30 pm.
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Treat snake, dog bite victims without demanding money, Min Gundurao directs pvt hospital
Bengaluru: Private hospitals must provide immediate life-saving treatment to victims of snake bites and dog bites without demanding any advance payment, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao said on Friday, stressing that the directive is mandatory and has already been issued as an official order.
The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the Snake Bites Prevention and Control and Rabies-Free Karnataka State Action Plan, organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, at Vikasa Soudha.
Stating that the government aims to reduce rabies deaths in the state to zero by 2030, Gundurao said the action plan focuses on strengthening rabies prevention mechanisms.Anti-rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin have been supplied to all primary health centres, community health centres, taluk hospitals and district hospitals across the state, and maintaining adequate stock has been made mandatory.
He added that private hospitals also have vaccines available and must begin treatment immediately without insisting on advance payment.
"To ensure strict implementation, state-level and district-level joint committees have been constituted to monitor compliance," Gundurao added.
The Minister said the initiative is being implemented with the coordination of various government departments, with non-governmental organisations also extending support.
Gundurao also stated that, “in line with Central Government guidelines, the Karnataka government included all snakebite cases under the list of notifiable diseases in 2024. The guidelines have been prepared in collaboration with NGOs, civil society organisations and multiple departments, focusing on prevention, availability of medicines, training of healthcare personnel and public awareness. The primary objective is to eliminate disability and mortality caused by snake bites.”
Reiterating the government’s stand, the Health Minister said that while free treatment for snakebite victims is being provided in government facilities, private hospitals are also responsible to offer immediate treatment without demanding advance payment.
