Airline fined for denying travel

New Delhi (PTI): A consumer court has asked Gulf Air to cough up Rs 26,000 as damages and also refund air fares to two passengers for forcing them to travel by another airliner despite having valid tickets.

The court rejected the airliner’s contention that entry was denied because the passengers did not possess visas of various countries where the plane stopped during the journey.

“As is apparent, the stand taken by the appellant that there was problem of visa is an afterthought to cover up its deficiency as the complainants had already undertaken a break journey with the same airliner while going to London,” it said.

At the London airport, complainants Santosh and Kanwar Singh were not permitted to board the flight. Later, they had to travel in a British Airways plane by shelling out Rs 64,000 extra.

The consumer forum held Gulf Air guilty of “deficiency of service” and asked it to compensate the complainants by paying them the British Airways air fare and Rs 26,000 as damages.

Baby dies in toilet delivery

Vadodara (PTI): A newborn baby died when its head got stuck in a lavatory bowl after a woman delivered the infant there.

Sonuben Vanzara delivered the baby on Saturday while answering nature’s call.

Fire brigade personnel broke the lavatory bowl and took out the infant. A gynaecologist treated the baby but it died within minutes, fire brigade officials said.

Blast kills kids

Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Two children died and 10 were injured when a cylinder used to generate coloured smoke exploded at a programme during a temple festival near here on Sunday.

The condition of one of the injured was serious, police said.

Farmers’ suicide

Akola (PTI): Frustrated by mounting debts, two farmers have committed suicide in Akola and Washim districts of Maharashtra. The farmers were identified as Anand Golait, and Vijay Jadhav, police said.

Dewani case blow

Mumbai (PTI): The prosecution in the murder case of Ajit Dewani, the former secretary to actress Manisha Koirala, has suffered a setback with the prime accused escaping from jail, police said on Sunday. Deepak Singh Jagannath Singh alias Deepu, a gunman of don Abu Salem, escaped from a Varanasi jail recently.

Villagers of Ammapatti in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district have “banned” poll graffiti, fearing it could affect village unity. Only oral canvassing would be allowed for the May 8 Assembly polls.