Mangalore Hajj pilgrims stranded in Jeddah, forced to starve

December 6, 2010

Mangalore: A group of 220 Haj pilgrims returning to Mangalore were stranded at King Abdul Azeez International Airport at Jeddah on Sunday for more than 10 hours without food.

According to information reaching here, the group comprising many old pilgrims were stranded following revision of the flight schedule. “From 8 a.m. till about 6 p.m., we did not get any food. Appeals to the Indian Embassy and airport officials also did not help,” said Abdul Rahiman (41), a former Uppinangadi Gram Panchayat president, who is among the pilgrims.

Unhappy with food

Speaking to The Hindu from Jeddah, Mr. Rahiman said that even the food that was offered to the pilgrims late in the evening was not palatable, and many pilgrims are complaining of sickness.

The group has pilgrims from Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu and Udupi.

It was after Mangalore MLA U.T. Khader intervened that the pilgrims received food, said the spokesperson of Karnataka Haj Committee, Abdul Wajeed, who confirmed that the pilgrims were stranded. However, since the airport had a hectic international schedule, flight schedule has got revised, he added.

The flight that was to land in Mangalore at 10 p.m. on Sunday night will now reach at 8 a.m. on Monday.

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PM Modi condoles death of Tulsi Gowda, says she will remain guiding light for environment conservation

News Network

December 17,2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday condoled the death of environmentalist Tulsi Gowda and said she will remain a guiding light for environmental conservation.

In a post on X, he said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Tulsi Gowda Ji, a revered environmentalist from Karnataka and Padma Awardee. She dedicated her life to nurturing nature, planting thousands of saplings, and conserving our environment."

"She will remain a guiding light for environmental conservation. Her work will continue to inspire generations to protect our planet. Condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti," he added.

Tulsi Gowda, the renowned environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee known as the "Vruksha Maate" (Mother of Trees), passed away on Monday at her residence in Karnataka’s Honnali village, Ankola Taluk, Uttara Kannada district. She was 86 and had been suffering from age-related ailments.

Hailing from the Halakki tribal community, Tulsi Gowda dedicated over six decades of her life to environmental conservation, planting and nurturing thousands of trees in Ankola and its surroundings.

Her unparalleled knowledge of plants earned her the title "Encyclopaedia of Plants." She was credited with growing lakhs of saplings and was celebrated for her unique approach to nurturing them, ensuring their survival and growth.

Born in 1944 to a tribal family, Tulsi Gowda developed a deep connection with nature at a young age. She began working at a forest department nursery as a daily wage worker and eventually became a symbol of afforestation.

In 2021, Tulsi Gowda was honored with the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, in recognition of her immense contributions to afforestation and environmental conservation.

She received the award from former President Ram Nath Kovind, a moment that brought her years of silent work into the national spotlight. Additionally, Dharwad Agricultural University conferred upon her an honorary doctorate for her knowledge and contributions to the environment. She also received the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra award and numerous other accolades throughout her lifetime.

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