Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: Bengaluru Airport to Electronics City in 19 minutes? and more

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), recently entered into a partnership with city-based Sarla Aviation to launch electric flying taxis. The two entities signed a statement of collaboration to explore sustainable air mobility, specifically electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

This initiative, developed in Karnataka, aims to revolutionise air travel by introducing seven-seater electric flying taxis, which promise faster, cleaner, and more efficient transportation, said Sarla Aviation. The company said that the proposed route from KIA to Electronics City would take about 19 minutes, compared to the 152 minutes required by road, with a fare of ₹1,700.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched a pilot project on October 17, 2024, to provide food to stray dogs in Bengaluru. It also organised the Festival of Dogs (Kukur Tihar) to celebrate the initiative. At eight identified zones in Bengaluru, food will be provided to stray dogs daily at specific feeding stations, equipped with bowls, water, and a signboard. The initiative will be monitored for a month before being expanded to all zones.

Under this initiative, pourakarmikas, health officials, animal husbandry officers, animal lovers, pet owners, and interested citizens will work together to collect leftover food from hotels and restaurants to feed stray dogs. The primary goal is to provide food to community dogs in areas where they lack access to regular meals, with food to be distributed once a day.

In a tragic incident, a 12-year-old boy was washed away in an overflowing drain in Haveri on October 17, 2024. Because of incessant rainfall on October 16 night, the old P.B. Road in Haveri was waterlogged due to an adjoining overflowing drain. The deceased, Nivedan Gudageri (12), a resident of Shivajinagar, accidentally fell into the drain while playing and was washed away.

Although the relief team, comprising fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot, they were able to fish out the boy only after an over two-hour operation. He was immediately rushed to hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

A large number of devotees witnessed the Cauvery “Teerthodbhava” at the birth place of the river at Talacauvery in Kodagu district on October 17, 2024. “Teerthodbhava” is the sudden gushing of water in the “Brahma Kundike” at Talacauvery which abutts the Brahamgiri Hill. The sprouting of the water was witnessed by the crowd at 7.40 a.m.