Chaos at Bengaluru airport amid Karnataka bandh, 44 flights cancelled

• Image Credit: Twitter

• Sep 29, 2023 | Poonam Nath

More than 40 planes were cancelled, and some pro-Kannada activists were detained after attempting to...

Digital Desk: On Friday, at least 44 flights were cancelled at Bengaluru International Airport as part of a statewide bandh called by Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella group for Kannada organisations, to protest the release of Cauvery river water to adjacent Tamil Nadu.

Based on the reports, the airport authorities stated that the flights were cancelled owing to operational concerns and that passengers were notified in a timely manner.

According to sources, the cancellations occurred as a result of the Karnataka bandh, as many passengers cancelled their tickets.

 To inform passengers BLR Airport posted a cautionary notice on X (Twitter).

Five pro-Kannada activists were also detained after entering the airport grounds with a Karnataka flag to make a demonstration.

Following sources, the five detainees had purchased plane tickets in order to obtain access to the airport grounds.

On Thursday, bandh organisers told PTI that there will be a big protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the capital, with people from all walks of life expected to take part.

They stated that the bandh will affect the entire state of Karnataka and that they will attempt to close highways, toll gates, rail services, and airports.

The opposition BJP and JD(S) have backed the bandh, as do hotels, autorickshaws, and hail rider unions in Karnataka.