Mangaluru: Flights to Gulf return as airspace closed amid Middle East tensions
Mangaluru: Heightened tensions in the Middle East have led to the closure of regional airspace, forcing flights from Mangaluru to Gulf destinations to be diverted and subsequently return.
According to officials at Mangaluru International Airport, several outbound flights were rerouted due to airspace restrictions in the region. An Air India flight bound for Dammam on Monday evening was diverted to Muscat, while an IndiGo flight en route to Abu Dhabi was made to land in Mumbai.
Both flights returned to Mangaluru on Tuesday morning after being unable to continue to their intended destinations.
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Karnataka: Home Department asks motorists to drive on highways with caution to avoid robbery
Belagavi: The Home Department has advised motorists to stay alert while travelling on national and state highways, warning that gangs involved in robbery and extortion have been active in several stretches. It said people should be extra cautious if anyone tries to stop their vehicle in isolated areas.
Replying to an unstarred question on Thursday, the department said Karnataka has recorded 403 highway robbery cases in the past three years. According to the data, national highways saw 81 extortion and 23 robbery cases in 2023, followed by 66 extortion and 16 robbery cases in 2024. Until November 15 this year, 51 extortion and 14 robbery cases have been reported.
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On state highways, 39 extortion and 17 robberies were reported in 2023, while 2024 saw 35 extortion and 22 robbery cases. In 2025 so far, 20 extortion and 19 robbery cases have taken place. The department noted that curbing highway robberies remains a major challenge for the police.
To tackle the issue, police stations have been directed to set up regular checkpoints on stretches of highways passing through their limits. Suspicious individuals and vehicles are being checked. Two-wheelers have been allocated to every station for night patrol, and staff have been instructed to conduct night rounds using vehicles fitted with sirens and red lights.
