44 flights cancelled, chaos at Bengaluru airport amid Karnataka bandh
rnataka,Sept 29 : As many as 44 flights were cancelled at the Bengaluru International Airport on Friday amid the statewide bandh called by Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organisation for Kannada organisations, to protest against the release of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.According to the details, the airport authorities said the flights were cancelled due to operational reasons and that the passengers were informed about the same in time.
However, sources said cancellations happened due to the effect of the Karnataka bandh since many passengers had cancelled their tickets.
Five pro-Kannada activists were also taken into custody as they entered the airport premises with a Karnataka flag to stage a protest.
Sources said the five detained had booked flight tickets in order to gain entry to the airport premises.
KARNATAKA BANDHNormal life was affected, especially in the southern part of the state, with pro-Kannada and farmers’ organisations calling for ‘Karnataka Bandh’.
Kannada Okkuta includes factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers’ bodies that have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.
On Thursday, organisers of the bandh told news agency PTI that there will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate.
They said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut down highways, toll gates, rail services, and airports.
The opposition BJP and JD(S) have extended their support to the bandh, as well as hotels, autorickshaws and hail riders associations in Karnataka.
-PTI
