Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday that the government has initiated an inquiry into Indigo's mass flight cancellations and will take strict action against the operator to set an example for other airlines. Blaming the airlines for its failure to manage the crew and duty roster through its day-to-day operations, Naidu said, "We are not taking this situation easily. We are doing an inquiry. We will take very, very strict action not only for this situation but also as an example". To the questions raised by Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, who wanted to know whether the Indigo crisis was caused by a fault in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), a technical issue that disrupted flight services in early November 2025. The minister said the Indigo crisis was not related to AMSS but was due to anomalies and mismanagement in Indigo's internal crew roster system. Elaborating on the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) guideline, which was framed after the high court order in April 2025, Naidu said that there were 22 FDTL guidelines, out of which 15 were implemented from July 1, 2025 and the remaining seven from November 1, 2025. According to Naidu, multiple stakeholder consultations were done, including Indigo, regarding the implementation of FDTL, and the government had made it very clear that all airlines will have to follow the rules without any compromise on safety. The minister added that since November 1, 2025, the day the FDTL fully came into operation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been in continuous consultation with all airlines, as they have requested certain exemptions due to variations in their operations. "After thorough consultation and safety risk assessment, necessary variations and exemptions have been given beforehand", Naidu said, adding that the crisis took place almost one whole month of operation in the new FDTL. Blaming Indigo entirely for the crisis, Naidu said that even on December 1, 2025, when the Ministry met with Indigo on FDTL, as it required some clarification, the company didn't flag the issue that caused the crisis. "This is a day-to-day operation -- something that Indigo should have maintained. Indigo was supposed to manage the crew, roaster through its day-to-day operations", Naidu said. "If there is any mis-compliance, non-compliance, non-adherence for any single person, entity and organisation, or any operator functioning in this civil aviation, we will take very, very strict action so that we set an example in the industry," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
08 December,2025 05:05 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday launched fund-raising drive at Ramgiri, his residence in Nagpur and said that the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund has become a crucial source of support for the families of soldiers who live difficult lives and make great sacrifices for the nation, reported the PTI. He said that while the life of a martyred soldier is priceless, the government has strengthened its support system by increasing financial assistance for their families from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore, according to the PTI. The Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), in a post on X, stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the fundraising campaign for Armed Forces Flag Day 2025 on Monday. The campaign aims to support soldiers, ex-servicemen and the families of martyred personnel. Minister Shambhuraj Desai, MoS Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, members of the Indian Armed Forces, families of martyrs and several dignitaries were present at the event. The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of honouring the sacrifices of soldiers and encouraged citizens to contribute generously to the Flag Day Fund. CM Fadnavis stated that the dedication of Indian soldiers "cannot be measured", and highlighted several government initiatives aimed at helping the families of serving and retired personnel. He said that many citizens voluntarily contribute small amounts from their daily earnings, and the collected funds are used for meaningful welfare schemes for ex-servicemen and their dependents. Speaking at the event, CM Fadnavis said that during Operation Sindoor, the world once again saw the bravery of the Indian Army -- one of the strongest forces globally and fully capable of dealing with future challenges, according to the PTI. He urged citizens to contribute to the Flag Day Fund as per their capacity as a mark of respect to the armed forces. The fund-raising campaign was formally launched by pinning the Flag Day badge. Officials from various departments and the district administration were felicitated for achieving the collection target. Florists Ashish Gadikar and Santosh Gadikar, who donate Rs 500 every month, were specially honoured. Major Hemant Jakate, a veteran of the 1965 and 1971 wars, donated Rs 50,000, while Geeta Kothe contributed Rs 1 lakh. Children of ex-servicemen who had excelled academically were also honoured. Officials reported that Nagpur district collected Rs 3.51 crore in 2024, making it one of the top districts in Maharashtra. The same target has been set for 2025. (with PTI inputs)
08 December,2025 04:56 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentThe Indian Navy has deployed four additional ships to deliver 1,000 tonnes of relief material to cyclone-affected regions of Sri Lanka as part of the ongoing Operation Sagar Bandhu, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday. The deployment includes INS Gharial and three Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels — LCU 54, LCU 51 and LCU 57 — which have been tasked with transporting critical Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies. The LCUs reached Colombo on Sunday morning and handed over essential material to Sri Lankan authorities, the Defence Ministry said. INS Gharial is expected to arrive in Trincomalee later on Monday to continue the delivery of relief supplies. Operation Sagar Bandhu was launched to provide urgent Search and Rescue (SAR) support and HADR assistance after Sri Lanka was hit by a severe cyclone. Earlier, INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri and INS Sukanya had also delivered relief stores and provided heli-borne SAR support. The Navy said the deployment, carrying 1,000 tonnes of aid, underscores the close people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka as well as India’s commitment to extending timely assistance to its neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region.
08 December,2025 04:22 PM IST | New Delhi | A CorrespondentVinod Kumar, along with his wife and her three sisters, left Delhi less than a week ago for their long-awaited vacation in Goa, as his mother watched them step out with bags and bade them a cheery farewell. On Monday, she sat by the same door waiting, unaware that her younger son, elder daughter-in-law and two close relatives would never return after losing their lives in a fire. The massive blaze in the early hours of Sunday tore through a Goan nightclub in Arpora, killing 25 people. Four of the five Delhi residents, all members of Kumar's family, were among those who died. The fifth, Bhavna Joshi, survived with injuries, police said. The deceased were identified as Vinod Kumar (43), Kamla Joshi (42), Anita Joshi (41) and Saroj Joshi (39). The injured, Bhavna, is Vinod's wife and a sister to the three deceased women. Kamla was married to Vinod's elder brother, Naveen. Their relatives said the four sisters had been planning the trip for months -- hoping for a few days of rest now that their children were older and no longer wholly dependent on them. Vinod had accompanied them so that they would feel safe and supported during the journey. The five left their Karawal Nagar homes with excitement, expecting a brief break from routine. Mahipal Singh Bhandari, a long-time neighbour of the family, said the loss was impossible to grasp. "I have been staying next to this family for almost 40 years. It is extremely heartbreaking that four members of the same family lost their lives because of someone else's irresponsibility," he said. Harish, a relative and a neighbour, said the tragedy had shaken the neighbourhood. "Incidents like these must be stopped before they even begin. Even if you look at the Rajendra Nagar coaching centre issue, that too should have been prevented. Proper checks are essential. Wherever crowds gather, exits must be open, and fire-safety norms must be followed by every organisation," he said. He further said he heard that this club had been ordered shut, and yet it reportedly kept running "illegally despite several notices". He added that the government must be held responsible. "Strict action is needed, and those responsible must not be spared. Families have lost their sons, husbands, children, brothers, sisters, wives and daughters, and this is not something you can ignore. Five of them set out for a Goa vacation, four of them got lost forever," he said. At their home in Karawal Nagar, relatives are struggling to shield the children and the elderly mother from the truth. Vinod and Bhavna are survived by their two children, an 11-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter. They have been kept away from the stream of neighbours and relatives arriving at the house, neighbours said. Meanwhile, the 18-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son of Kamla have barely spoken since they received the news, relatives said, adding that they were waiting for their mother to return and bring souvenirs from Goa. In a different room, Vinod's mother waits, unaware that the goodbyes she said to four members of the family have turned out to be the final ones. Relatives say she keeps asking if the "injured" have been shifted to a safer hospital. "She believes they will be brought home any moment," a local resident said, adding, "No one knows how she will react when she learns the truth." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
08 December,2025 04:21 PM IST | New Delhi | PTISamajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Monday hit out at the BJP, claiming that those who did not participate in the freedom struggle were now talking of the values of "Vande Mataram" and asserted that the national song should not be used as a tool to impose one's beliefs on others. Participating in a discussion on the 150th anniversary of "Vande Mataram" in the Lok Sabha, Yadav said that "Vande Mataram" should be followed in spirit, as it is a song which bonded people during the freedom struggle. "Vande Mataram is not to show off, nor is it a political tool. When we listen to them, they make it sound as if they created the verse," Yadav said referring to the treasury benches. He also questioned how individuals who did not participate in the freedom struggle could truly understand the meaning of "Vande Mataram." "Today, divisive elements are using Vande Mataram to create divisions. These individuals are still following the same 'divide and rule' policy used by the British," Yadav said. He also accused those on the treasury benches of wanting to own everything, saying, "time and again it has been seen that those on the ruling side try to appropriate iconic leaders who never belonged to them". Yadav noted that while people may not remember the entire "Vande Mataram" song or fully comprehend its significance, simply uttering those two words can evoke pride, as they are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. He emphasised that "Vande Mataram" played a crucial role in uniting India to emerge from British rule, and in its 150th year, this song should not be used as a means to impose one's beliefs or exert pressure on others." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
08 December,2025 04:09 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIThe last rites of the three migrant workers from Jharkhand who lost their lives in the Goa nightclub fire incident were performed at their hometowns on Monday, news agency PTI reported. Pradeep Mahto (24) and his brother Binod (20) from Fatehpur Village in Lapung, Ranchi District, and Mohit Munda (22) of Govindpur Village in Khunti District died in the inferno that ravaged a North Goa club post-midnight on Sunday. A total of 25 people, including 14 staff members of the nightclub, were killed in the blaze. The bodies of Mahto, Binod, and Munda, who used to work at the nightclub, were brought back to the state in the morning by a flight, reported PTI. The mortal remains of the two brothers were cremated on the banks of the Karo River in Lapung, around 60 km from Ranchi, in the presence of villagers and block officials. The brothers had migrated to Goa about a year ago and used to send around Rs 30,000 per month to their family while working in the nightclub, PTI reported. The victims' elder brother told media, "Both were unmarried. They were scheduled to celebrate Holi with us next year." Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Shilpy Neha Tirkey, who coordinated with the Goa Government to bring back the bodies, said all the three victims belonged to her Mandar Constituency. "The bodies were sent to their native villages in special ambulances. I will request Chief Minister Hemant Soren for some welfare provisions for the families of the victims," she told mediapersons. Jharkhand's Labour Department has handed Rs 50,000 each to the families of the three victims as immediate assistance. The state migrant control room's team lead, Shikha Lakra, who received the bodies at the airport, told the media, “The Labour Department has ensured that two of the family members of the victims who are still stranded in Goa are brought back to Ranchi by a flight in the evening." Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among othersa also expressed grief over the loss of lives. Goa Chief Minister while asserting about the unfortunate incident said that, "A preliminary inquiry however, indicated that the fire started on the first floor, and due to congestion and small doors, customers could not move out. “Some of them rushed to the ground floor and got trapped there.” (With inputs from PTI)
08 December,2025 04:06 PM IST | Khunti | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invoked the memories of the Emergency (1975) while commemorating the 150th year of Vande Mataram in Parliament. The Prime Minister also described the patriotic hymn as a guiding force of India’s freedom struggle and a symbol of resilience against oppression. As the Prime Minister arrived in the Lok Sabha, members of the ruling party broke into slogans of Vande Mataram, setting the tone for the historic occasion, reported IANS. The Prime Minister further emphasised that the celebration was not merely ceremonial but a moment of reflection on India’s democratic journey. PM Modi, while speaking at the lower house, asserted that, “We all have this great fortune in this House... On this historic occasion, we are witnessing a moment that brings to light the heart of history,” as cited by news agency IANS. He also urged fellow parliamentarians to use the discussion as a source of education for future generations. The Prime Minister, while speaking at the Lok Sabha, also highlighted that many chapters of history had unfolded before them, from the sacrifices of freedom fighters to the trials faced during the Emergency. He further recalled that when Vande Mataram marked its 100th year, the country was shackled under the chains of the Emergency. While the Prime Minister was asserting his views on the ‘Emergency’, the lower house triggered a burst of slogans from the treasury benches: “Shame, shame, shame.” PM Modi noted how the Constitution was strangled, and patriots were jailed After asserting about the ‘Emergency’, the Prime Minister further described the period of ‘Emergency’ as a “dark calamity” in India’s democratic history, contrasting it with the current celebration of 75 years of the Constitution and 150 years of Vande Mataram. PM Modi also linked the commemoration to other milestones being observed this year -- the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Patel and Birsa Munda and the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur. He said that these anniversaries together reflect the spirit of sacrifice and unity that shaped India’s destiny. The Prime Minister also added, “The 150th journey of Vande Mataram has passed through many stages. Today is an opportunity to restore pride in that great chapter. I believe Parliament and the nation must rise to this occasion. This should never be allowed to happen again,” as per IANS. Stressing that the leadership of the freedom struggle was carried with Vande Mataram, he further pointed out that this was something that lifted the energy and spirit in freedom fighters. (With inputs from IANS)
08 December,2025 01:31 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAs widespread delays and cancellations cripple IndiGo’s operations across major airports, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Centre, alleging that the government was protecting the airline instead of regulating it. Her remarks come at a time when thousands of passengers are stranded across the country due to severe network disruptions. Chaturvedi said, “Who will explain the reasons? The people who never gave you any reason will now try to explain why the norms were not being followed. While other airlines complied, why was IndiGo given exemption? The entire government seems to be in IndiGo’s pocket and it has been proven that as soon as flights stopped taking off or were canceled, they violated the existing norms and regulations. I believe this has been going on for a long time. Why did the Civil Aviation Ministry allow them to continue their arbitrary actions? Why were the DGCA officials not held accountable? Now, only a show cause notice is being issued…” Echoing the criticism, Trinamool MP Kirti Azad launched an even sharper attack on the airline, saying, “IndiGo is a thief airline. They charge passengers for seats, food, water, and soon they may even charge for using the toilet. Two years ago, it was known that pilots need rest for passenger safety; if a pilot doesn’t get the mandated 48-hour rest, accidents can happen. But IndiGo ignored this law because it has become a money-making machine.” “The government and DGCA should answer why this negligence was allowed. IndiGo, with a 64 per cent market share, operates with impunity, while other airlines like Tata are careful due to grounded planes. IndiGo should be fined crores immediately. Despite ticket caps of Rs 15,000, they are charging Rs 50,000–60,000. The airline has no fear of the government, and the government is acting like a business promoter instead of a regulator,” she added. Congress MP Jebi Mather also expressed concern, calling the situation a nationwide distress: “The IndiGo issue is such a disaster; passengers across the country are finding it very difficult. This situation should be resolved as soon as possible…” IndiGo, India’s largest carrier with over 60 per cent market share, has been facing major operational breakdowns due to crew shortages, flight duty time violations, and alleged over-scheduling despite staff fatigue concerns. The disruptions have led to mass cancellations and sky-high spot fares on several routes. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to the airline, but Opposition leaders argue that regulatory action has been too little, too late. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
08 December,2025 01:30 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSThe National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary Party will hold a meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 9:30 AM, according to an official notice issued by the BJP Parliamentary Party office. As reported by news agency ANI, the meeting will take place at the G.M.C. Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament Library Building (PLB). The notice, signed by Office Secretary Dr Shiv Shakti Nath Bakshi, directed all NDA Members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to be present on time. Meanwhile, on the sixth day of the Parliament Winter Session, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs will felicitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi today for the landslide victory in the Bihar assembly election. PM Modi is participating in a special discussion on the 150th anniversary of "Vande Mataram" today, which will touch on many important and lesser-known facets of the iconic song, reported ANI. The BJP-led NDA government has been allotted three hours for its participation in the Lok Sabha debate. A total of 10 hours has been earmarked for the entire discussion, as the debate will also take place in the upper house. On Tuesday, December 9. Further, the House convened at 11 am, beginning with a question hour. During the question hour, a separate list was raised and answered by the concerned ministers about the issues that were put up by the MPs. Following this, several ministers also laid papers on the table, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Ministry of Culture), Jayant Chaudhary (Ministry of Education), Pankaj Chaudhary (Ministry of Finance), Sushri Shobha Karandlaje (Ministry of Labour and Employment), Kirti Vardhan Singh (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), and Harsh Malhotra (Ministry of Corporate Affairs), reported ANI. Furthermore, Rajya Sabha also saw the presentation of the Tenth Report of the Standing Committee on Energy by Shrirang Appa Barne and Shrikant Eknath Shinde, on the subject of 'Performance Evaluation of Solar Power Projects in the Country'. Statements of the Standing Committee on Energy will be laid on Tuesday, showing final action taken by the government on previous reports concerning the Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy. As reported by news agency ANI, Rajeev Rai and Angomcha Bimol Akoijam will present the 371st Report of the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, reviewing autonomous bodies and institutions under the Ministry of Education, including NTA, NAAC, ICHR, ICPR, ICSSR, IIAS (Shimla), and the Auroville Foundation. (With inputs from ANI)
08 December,2025 01:11 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentOn the sixth day of the Parliament Winter Session, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs are set to felicitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the party’s landslide victory in the Bihar Assembly election. PM Modi is also expected to take part in a special discussion marking the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram”, which will highlight both prominent and lesser-known aspects of the iconic song, reported news agency ANI. The BJP-led NDA has been allocated three hours for its participation in the Lok Sabha debate, while the full discussion, which will continue in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, December 9, has been allotted a total of 10 hours. Further, the House will convene at 11 am, beginning with question hour, during which questions entered on a separate list were raised and answered by the concerned ministers. Following this, several ministers will lay papers on the Table, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Ministry of Culture), Jayant Chaudhary (Ministry of Education), Pankaj Chaudhary (Ministry of Finance), Sushri Shobha Karandlaje (Ministry of Labour and Employment), Kirti Vardhan Singh (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), and Harsh Malhotra (Ministry of Corporate Affairs). According to ANI, the House will also see the presentation of the Tenth Report of the Standing Committee on Energy by Shrirang Appa Barne and Shrikant Eknath Shinde, on the subject of 'Performance Evaluation of Solar Power Projects in the Country'. Alongside, statements of the Standing Committee on Energy will be laid, showing final action taken by the government on previous reports concerning the Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy. In addition, Rajeev Rai and Angomcha Bimol Akoijam will present the 371st Report of the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, reviewing autonomous bodies and institutions under the Ministry of Education, including NTA, NAAC, ICHR, ICPR, ICSSR, IIAS (Shimla), and the Auroville Foundation. Statements of the Standing Committee on Finance will also be tabled by Bhartuhari Mahtab and Jayanta Kumar Roy, covering the final action taken by the government on reports regarding Demands for Grants 2024-25 for the Ministries of Finance, Corporate Affairs, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Furthermore, the Committee on Estimates will lay five action-taken statements for the year 2025-26, covering implementation reviews of solar parks, the PMGSY scheme, Green Highways under NHDP, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and the PM MITRA textile parks scheme. Brijmohan Agarwal and Sanjay Jaiswal will present these statements. (With ANI inputs)
08 December,2025 12:42 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndiGo’s ongoing nationwide flight disruptions have left passengers at Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport struggling with cancellations, unanswered queries, and rising travel expenses on Monday. A visibly distressed passenger told ANI that she had been stranded for days with no clarity or assistance from the airline, highlighting the growing frustration among travellers. The traveller, who had flown from Jaipur to Guwahati, said her scheduled return flight on December 5 at 5:55 PM was abruptly cancelled, triggering chaos at the airport. "I had come from Jaipur and had a return ticket for December 5 in an IndiGo flight scheduled at 5.55 PM. It was cancelled, and there was a lot of chaos at the airport, due to which the staff closed the window, and we went back," she said. She added that she made repeated attempts over the next three days to reschedule his ticket or contact IndiGo's grievance team, but said customer support did not respond. "I tried for 3 days, but neither my ticket was rescheduled nor did the grievance contact number respond," she said, reported ANI. "We finally booked a ticket on Air India two days ago, which cost us Rs25,800," the passenger said, adding that they are still waiting for IndiGo to refund the original fare. "We are trying, but there has been no refund yet," she further added. Meanwhile, air travel across India has been in chaos with widespread IndiGo flight disruptions on Monday, and major airports across the country reported extensive cancellations. Ahmedabad Airport reported 18 IndiGo cancellations by 8 AM, including nine arrivals and nine departures. However, airport authorities confirmed that terminal and airside operations remained smooth and that passenger facilitation was being handled. 21 IndiGo flights operated during this period, including seven arrivals and 14 departures. At Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL), a total of 127 IndiGo flights were cancelled, with 65 arrivals and 62 departures affected. Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) also saw a severe impact, with 77 IndiGo flights disrupted as of today, including 38 arrivals and 39 departures cancelled, according to airport authorities, reported ANI. Furthermore, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) recorded the highest number of cancellations so far today, with 75 departures and 59 arrivals, 134 flights in total, being called off. The large-scale disruptions prompted Delhi Airport to issue an advisory urging passengers to check their latest flight status before leaving for the airport. Meanwhile, passengers at Chennai International Airport, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Gujarat's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Assam's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport were stranded in terminal areas as they waited for updates on their flights. Jaipur International Airport also reported multiple IndiGo cancellations, including flights to Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi. However, airport authorities confirmed that the situation remained calm, with no major issues reported among passengers despite the cancellations. (With ANI inputs)
08 December,2025 12:41 PM IST | Guwahati | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
