Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, May 20: Thirty-two passengers, hailing from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, who were compelled to stay at Nippani check post on the way from Maharashtra to Karnataka finally received the green signal to enter their home state. The issue was highlighted and followed up by Daijiworld. The smiles on the faces of the passengers and their families were back district in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary tweeted stating that state government has permitted the passengers to enter Karnataka.
As many as 32 people including a pregnant woman and an infant started their journey to their homeland from Mumbai by bus on Tuesday, May 19. The travel agency charged Rs 4,300 from each passenger to clear the check-up at check posts and for the bus fare. They also received pass from Maharashtra government to travel to Karnataka. But when they reached Nippani check post, police stopped them and asked them to show separate pass to enter Karnataka issued by Karnataka government. Few of them tried to contact the travel agency. The travel agency did not respond repeated calls. The passengers came to a conclusion that there were cheated by the travel agency.
One of the passengers called Daijiworld, explained the situation and requested for help. As a responsible media house, Daijiworld immediately responded to the issue and on a live TV show, requested minister Kota Srinivas Poojary to rescue the passengers. The minister assured help and arranged food and shelter for the stranded passengers at Nippani. The issue was followed-up by Daijiworld on Wednesday, May 20. The minister had a discussion on the issue with Dakshina Kannada and Udupi deputy commissioners (DC) and later brought it to the notice of chief minister B S Yediyurappa. MLA Umanath Kotian also showed special interest in this issue and discussed it with officials to rescue the stranded passengers. The CM gave permission to the stranded passengers to enter Karnataka quoting it to be a special case asking all of them to undergo compulsory quarantine and health test. The stranded passengers will start their journey soon.
Daijiworld thanks minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLA of Moodbidri Umanath Kotian, Dakshina Kannada DC Sindhu Roopesh and Udupi DC G Jagadeesha for their prompt action and special concern towards the stranded passengers on humanity basis.