Karnataka Bandh: 44 Flights From Bengaluru Airport Cancelled; Passengers Create Chaos

Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport saw the cancellation of 44 flights with airport authorities citing operational reasons for the change in schedule.

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Bengaluru Airport authorities have announced the cancellation of 44 flights as Karnataka observes a state-wide shutdown. As per an announcement by Airport authorities 22 arrivals and 22 departures have been cancelled today from Kempegowda International Airport. As per the announcement, the cancellations have been made due to operational reasons and the passengers were intimated within time.

The flights scheduled to fly to metro cities New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and other destinations have been cancelled.

According to reports, the activists purchased a ticket for the Indigo 7731 flight and arrived at the Bengaluru airport at 9.50 a.m. with plans to stage a protest near the flight. The authorities took them into custody as they were preparing to stage the protest. The protesters were taken into custody and handed over to police, who then cancelled the flights scheduled to fly to metro cities New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and other destinations.

As per IANS' report, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy urged the state government to immediately release the Kannada activists taken into custody or arrested while staging protests over the Cauvery issue.

“The whole state has responded well to the Karnataka bandh call. All should be united when it comes to the interests of the state. The integrity and unity of the state should be a warning bell to the neighbouring states,” he stated. “The feelings of Kannada people should not be trampled upon,” he said.

“We extend total support to the bandh from JD(S). The agitation for Cauvery has become inevitable under the present circumstances. The government in Karnataka is practicing appeasement politics. The politics should not be carried over the Cauvery issue. Tamil Nadu is receiving good rainfall and predictions of rain are also positive. Still, the quarrel is made for water. The state government in Karnataka is not taking a stand for the people,” IANS quotes Kumaraswamy.