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IndiGo meltdown throws KIA into chaos

BENGALURU: Thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Friday as Terminal 1, known for its iconic design, descended into chaos, overcrowding and exhaustion, resembling a refugee camp. As 292 IndiGo flights were cancelled and abrupt disruptions continued for the fourth day on Friday, there was little clarity and passengers frustration only grew. Arguments broke out between passengers, airline staff and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. Fares on other airlines skyrocketed to Rs 1 lakh for routes to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. With limited seating available, families and solo travellers stretched out on the floors, some sleeping on jackets, while others leaning against luggage, turning the terminal into a crowded waiting hall. A family enroute to Haridwar for asthi visarjan was stranded, even as the daughter of the deceased held a urn that had the remains of her father. They had no option other than paying exorbitant sums for an alternative ticket. Even as passengers struggled, no food or alternative flight arrangements were made. Hyderabad-bound passenger Jayesh Menon told TNIE that flyers were initially informed about one-hour delays, that repeated multiple times before the flights were cancelled. But even a bigger crisis awaited flyers as many were unable to retrieve their checked-in baggage for four to five hours. People are angry, sad, every emotion you can think of, he added. Several stranded passengers continued waiting for their luggage late into the evening, while others scrambled to find alternative travel arrangements amid disruptions, he added. Airfares surge tenfold on certain routes on Saturday as IndiGo cancels 1,000 flights on Friday RANCHI TO BLURU: A 36-HR ORDEAL What should have taken a routine 2.5-hour journey from Ranchi to Bengaluru turned out to be a 36-hour ordeal for Sanjay Choraria and his wife. They started on Thursday at 7 am to reach the airport early for their 8.50 am IndiGo flight, only to face repeated one-hour delays that stretched endlessly until the airline abruptly cancelled the flight at 4 pm. The only alternative offered was a punishing detour - Ranchi to Kolkata to Chennai to Bengaluru. But a bigger nightmare awaited them on the Kolkata to Chennai with the 9.40 pm departure repeatedly pushed past midnight and to 2.30 am. It finally took off at 4 am after tensions boiled over. In Chennai, passengers were dealt another blow when the final flight to Bengaluru was cancelled. Exhausted and out of options, the couple hired a private cab and reached Bengaluru at 7 pm on Friday. HUBBALLI BRIDE, GROOM ATTEND RECEPTION ONLINE Hubballi: It was a full house at a marriage hall in Hubballi. There were close to 700 guests who arrived to bless the couple for their reception. But there were no bride and groom. They came on live on screen from Bhubaneshwar. Following countrywide delays in air traffic involving Indigo Airlines, the bride and groom could not make it. However, the brides parents were at the venue to complete the rituals. The parents of the bride, Medha, at the last minute decided to host the party and ensured the bride and groom got ready and came online at the marriage hall. Medha and Sangam Das were married on December 23 in Odisha and the reception was scheduled on December 3 in Hubballi. They were to fly to Mumbai on December 2 and then to Hubballi. -- Amit S Upadhye IndiGo pilots and crew say management failures left staff to face public ire amid mass cancellations

Crude bombs hurled near school in Bhubaneshwar, no one injured

Bhubaneswar: Miscreants hurled crude bombs near Kendriya Vidyalaya-3 here on Friday morning, triggering panic in the area, police said. However, no one was hurt in the incident. A team from Mancheswar police station reached the spot soon after receiving information and began an investigation. BhubaneswarCuttack Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh also visited the site. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Odia singer Humane Sagar passes away at 34 due to...

Renowned Odia singer Humane Sagar has passed away at 34 at AIIMS Bhubaneshwar.

HDFC Life's 'Ready for Life' Report Highlights a Gap of 26 Points Between Perceived and Actual Financial Readiness

As per the nationwide study, Indias actual Ready for Life Index (RLI) stands at a modest 59, compared to a high perceived readiness of 85, indicating a wide gap of 26 points in financial readiness across Indias urban population Retirement planning emerges as Indias biggest gap area, with two in three individuals, expecting family support after retirement, despite planning Two out of five individuals have an emergency fund to last over four months; two out of five health insurance owners hold a health cover below INR 5 lakh The findings also highlight Indias need for long-term protection and financial literacy across income groups and cities HDFC Lif e has launched Ready for Life - its latest research-based study. This one-of-its-kind report makes an effort to quantify the Financial Readiness Gap the difference between perceived and actual financial preparedness of individuals. Vineet Arora, Executive Director & Chief Business Officer, HDFC Life The Index shows a 26-point gap, which implies that there is a big difference in terms of actual readiness of an individual in comparison to how ready they think they are largely due the lack of action to convert financial planning from merely a plan into reality. In other words, the index reveals that individuals are not well-prepared to handle uncertainties of life across different financial aspects. About the Study The Ready for Life Index 2025 is a proprietary research initiative by HDFC Life. This research has been conducted by Ipsos India, an independent market research company. Based on 1,836 face-to-face interviews with working men and women aged between 2555 years across Metros, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities*, the study evaluates Indias life readiness across four key pillars Financial Planning, Emergency Preparedness, Health & Well-being, and Retirement Strategy. The index aims to highlight the gap between perception and actual preparedness, encouraging a shift from short-term savings to structured, long-term financial planning. Balancing Confidence and Preparedness Indias Retirement Reality The Ready for Life Index 2025 evaluates India's overall preparedness across life pillars of high importance and finds that though awareness and optimism are visible, preparedness is still uneven. While consumers hold clear ideal retirement goals, their financial actions and product choices suggest that these goals may be difficult to reach. Of all the pillars, retirement preparedness is the weakest with a 37-point gap between confidence and level of action. Close to half of urban Indians have yet to begin saving for retirement, and two out of every three anticipate support from family after retirement. Most respondents who have started planning for retirement, are of the opinion that a corpus of INR 50 lakhs INR 1 crore would last about 17 years, which could prove to be a gross underestimation considering inflation and lifestyle costs. These results stress on the need for India to move from family-supported financial security to independent retirement planning and also on the need for awareness on financial planning Financial Planning and Protection Traditional Strength, Modern Gaps While Indian customers are inclined towards conventional savings instruments like endowment insurance plans, fixed deposits, and gold, protection and growth-oriented products like term insurance, market linked products, and retirement products are underutilised. Term insurance, which is one of the most cost-effective protection instruments, has modest ownership owing to limited product understanding, myths around claim settlement, and belief that premiums offer no return if the policy holder outlives the policy term. While financial discipline is visible to an extent, the savings space remains dominated by traditional products and short-term goals. The real opportunity lies in encouraging systematic, long-term investing to build sustainable wealth and reduce over-reliance on low-growth instruments. On a positive note, there is increasing awareness about health and wellness. Four in five survey participants actively engage in physical activities to maintain their overall physical and mental well-being. Similarly, two out of three go for yearly health check-ups. But the gap in coverage continues to exist; 2 in 5 respondents have health insurance cover of less than INR 5 lakh. Further, in terms of emergency funds, 2 in 5 individuals possess sufficient savings to meet home expenses for more than four months. Regional and Tier-wise Insights The study reveals notable regional variations in financial readiness across India: North India shows the widest readiness gap of 30 points, mainly due to weaker emergency and retirement planning East India records the most realistic self-assessment with a gap of 20 points, and also displays a traditional and disciplined savings approach South India leads in maturity towards financial and health planning West India demonstrates a more diversified investment outlook but lower focus on long-term planning Tier 3 cities display the lowest preparedness and widest confidence gaps, highlighting the need for deeper financial literacy efforts beyond metros here for the report Vineet Arora Executive Director & Chief Business Officer, HDFC Life , shared his thoughts on the study, The Ready for Life Index reflects Indias growing awareness and optimism about financial planning but also reminds us that true readiness is built through consistent planning and protection. Confidence alone is not enough preparedness needs structure and action ." " The findings indicate that retirement remains Indias biggest financial blind spot. Despite higher awareness, the actual action towards long-term security is limited. Through this study, we aim to encourage meaningful conversations around preparedness and protection as essential pillars of financial wellness . * List of cities - Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam, Vadodara, Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Muzaffarnagar, Panipat, Thanjavur, Machilipatnam, Anand, Dhule, Bardhaman, Ganjam Disclaimer HDFC Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (HDFC Life) (i) makes no express or implied representations, warranties or covenants as to the accuracy and/or completeness of the information, data, opinions, commentary, analysis and/or any direct or indirect recommendations included in the Ready for Life Index Study conducted by Ipsos India Pvt. Ltd. (Study), and (ii) disclaims any and all damages, costs and liabilities whatsoever to the recipient or reader and or its representatives (tangible or intangible, including, but not limited to loss of business opportunity, loss of profit, loss of market share or loss of goodwill) for any reliance or use made by the recipient or reader and its representatives on the Study, or any errors therein or omissions therefrom. The report is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, taxation, or professional advice by HDFC Life. The recipient or reader and its representatives should not rely solely on this content for making financial decisions, and are advised to seek qualified professional guidance tailored to their personal circumstances. Ipsos India Pvt. Ltd. and the authors disclaim any liability for any direct or indirect losses arising from the use of this report or its content. This report does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product.

Mission Panchayat: Odisha govt to develop over 53K futuristic model villages by 2047

BHUBANESHWAR: As part of the state government's futuristic model gram panchayat mission, which will be launched under the Viksit Odisha vision, every village in the state will have exemplary public infrastructures, according to a senior official in the state government. Official sources said the government will develop model infrastructure including park, library-cum-infotainment centre, Kalyan Mandap, well-maintained playground, haat with dedicated storage and waste disposal facilities, tank, crematorium and model anganwadi centre in every panchayat. As part of the mission, every block and district will have a mega model tourism circuit for preservation and showcasing cultural heritage sites like temples, monuments and handicraft hubs. The state has 53,845 villages under 6,801 panchayats in 314 blocks of the 30 districts. Although there is no dearth of rural development schemes, most of the villages in the state still lack some form of basic infrastructure and amenities. The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department has decided to develop in three phases the public infrastructure in all villages. At least 7,000 villages, especially the panchayat-headquartered villages, will be developed as model ones by 2029, 20,000 villages by 2036 while the remaining villages by will be transformed by 2047. Commissioner-cum-secretary of the department Girish SN said, in order to propel the state towards the path of accelerated growth, it is imperative to ensure holistic development of its rural areas, where the majority of its population resides. The state government has envisioned to transform all villages into self-sustaining models with access to basic amenities. Several panchayats have some of such infrastructure which will be further improved. A base-line survey will be conducted to finalise the list of infrastructure to be created. A director-level committee has already been formed to monitor it, he informed. The government has multiple schemes for all weather road connectivity, piped water supply, electricity, rural sanitation and waste management, healthcare, education, telecom and internet connectivity and development of public spaces like parks, community halls, playgrounds, libraries, crematorium and markets. These schemes will be converged for developing core rural infrastructure, the PR&DW secretary said. It has also been decided to develop rural tourism circuits around the ancient/culturally significant temples, historical monuments, handicraft hubs, renowned cultural centres and other popular tourist destination like lakes and waterfalls to showcase local culture, heritage and tradition. Suitable sites will be selected for holistic development of nearby and surrounding areas of culturally significant temples in each gram panchayat. Site specific development plans will be prepared for each site with the involvement of local community and PRIs. Amenities like amusement park with vending zone, waste management facility and beautification of traditional water bodies/tanks will be focused. Rural parks will be a major component of the model tourism circuit. Transforming villages State govt has envisioned to transform all villages into self-sustaining models with access to basic amenities. Several panchayats have some of such infra which will be further improved.

Two Ladakh Engineers Deputed For 84th Indian Road Congress Session In Odisha

Leh, Nov 4: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has deputed two engineers from the Public Works (R&B) Department to attend the 84th Annual Session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) scheduled to be held at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) from November 7 to 10, 2025. See Order Copy Click Here. The post Two Ladakh Engineers Deputed For 84th Indian Road Congress Session In Odisha appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Universities call for complete revamp in Education Ministrys NIRF rankings

NEW DELHI: A collective call was given by multiple universities across the country on the need to bring in dynamic reforms in the Education Ministrys National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) that is released annually. The criteria used for ranking remains the same since its inception a decade ago and hence the demand for changes in it, said multiple people who took part. A meet was held at the IISc Habitat in Delhi on Friday evening in connection with the reforms required in these National Rankings. They are decided by the National Board of Accreditation, constituted by the Ministry. Education Secretary Vineet Joshi chaired the meet in which Chairman of the Executive Council of the National Assessement and Acrcediation Council Anil Sahasrabudhi and representatives of the IITs of Roorkee, Mumbai, Madras, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar took part along with those from many National Institute of Technologies and universities from across the country including from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir. There was a controversy over the National Rankings 2025 due to the ups and downs of some universities. This forced NBA to go in for a third party vetting for the first time by the firm Ernst and Young before they were made public after much delay in September 2025. A senior educationist told this reporter, on the condition of anonymity, that a key recommendation was the emphasis given to the `Perception factor. Perception is a relative term. By giving ten marks out of 100 in the rankings to this aspect, it was not a fair assessment was the opinion expressed by multiple heads of institutions. Though the ranking committee said they spoke to peers, professors and the general public before assessing the perception factor, representatives of universities expressed their unhappiness over it and recommended that this criterion be dropped, he said. Another recommendation was that the 20 marks given to the Graduation Outcome (GO) takes into account the number of graduates who get employed after passing out. There are hundreds of students who take over their family business or run their own start-ups. This is not given any weightage. Hence, there should be value attached to these aspects too and not just for those who go into traditional forms of employment, he added. Many educationists also pointed out that institutes not recognised by the National Medical Commision, the Dental Council of India, the Bar Council of India or the All India Council of Technical Education find place in the rankings. Such educational institutions need to be dropped, they felt. The Head of an institute also pointed out that technical universities in the country, numbering around 20 are left out of the rankings. They need to be included. Such a competiton will help them improve their professional standings and make them competitive, he said.

Universities calls for complete revamp in Ministrys NIRF rankings

NEW DELHI: A collective call was given by multiple universities across the country on the need to bring in dynamic reforms in the Education Ministrys National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) that is released annually. The criteria used for ranking remains the same since its inception a decade ago and hence the demand for changes in it, said multiple people who took part. A meet was held at the IISc Habitat in Delhi on Friday evening in connection with the reforms required in these National Rankings. They are decided by the National Board of Accreditation, constituted by the Ministry. Education Secretary Vineet Joshi chaired the meet in which Chairman of the Executive Council of the National Assessement and Acrcediation Council Anil Sahasrabudhi and representatives of the IITs of Roorkee, Mumbai, Madras, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar took part along with those from many National Institute of Technologies and universities from across the country including from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir. There was a controversy over the National Rankings 2025 due to the ups and downs of some universities. This forced NBA to go in for a third party vetting for the first time by the firm Ernst and Young before they were made public after much delay in September 2025. A senior educationist told this reporter, on the condition of anonymity, that a key recommendation was the emphasis given to the `Perception factor. Perception is a relative term. By giving ten marks out of 100 in the rankings to this aspect, it was not a fair assessment was the opinion expressed by multiple heads of institutions. Though the ranking committee said they spoke to peers, professors and the general public before assessing the perception factor, representatives of universities expressed their unhappiness over it and recommended that this criterion be dropped, he said. Another recommendation was that the 20 marks given to the Graduation Outcome (GO) takes into account the number of graduates who get employed after passing out. There are hundreds of students who take over their family business or run their own start-ups. This is not given any weightage. Hence, there should be value attached to these aspects too and not just for those who go into traditional forms of employment, he added. Many educationists also pointed out that institutes not recognised by the National Medical Commision, the Dental Council of India, the Bar Council of India or the All India Council of Technical Education find place in the rankings. Such educational institutions need to be dropped, they felt. The Head of an institute also pointed out that technical universities in the country, numbering around 20 are left out of the rankings. They need to be included. Such a competiton will help them improve their professional standings and make them competitive, he said.

Iconic Durbar hall of Paralakhemundi Palace faces neglect & environmental threat: INTACH report

BHUBANESHWAR, Oct 13 : The historic Durbar Hall of Paralakhemundi Palace, an architectural marvel that played a pivotal role in Odishas statehood movement in 1936, is now facing serious threats from environmental degradation and neglect, according to a report released by Matriarch and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The detailed report, prepared by Conservation Architect Anisa Swain, who recently led a team from Matriarch Architecture and Conservation along with INTACH members to Paralakhemundi, describes the [] The post Iconic Durbar hall of Paralakhemundi Palace faces neglect & environmental threat: INTACH report appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

CAG suspects misappropriation of govt funds of Rs 148.75 cr in 11 ITDAs of Odisha

BHUBANESHWAR, Sep 24 : The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) suspects misappropriation of government funds of Rs 148.75 crore due to divergence of funds from bank accounts operated by engineers in 11 Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) in Odisha. The CAG conducted a compliance audit of 11 of 22 ITDAs in the state covering the period from financial year 2018-19 to 2022-23 and mentioned its findings in its compliance audit report (civil), which was laid before the Odisha [] The post CAG suspects misappropriation of govt funds of Rs 148.75 cr in 11 ITDAs of Odisha appeared first on Daily Excelsior .