Santhosh Rai, who lost three of his family says 'I still feel they're here'

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 27, 2010

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Dubai, May, 27 : The tragedy is yet to sink in for Dubai-based Santhosh Rai, who lost his wife Reshma, son Naland, 10, and eight-month-old daughter Viha in the Air India Express plane crash last week.

Speaking from Mangalore, where he air-dashed after the crash, Rai, a training co-ordinator with Emirates Aluminium, said, "Only time will tell. I still feel they are in Dubai, busy with work and school, while I have come here."

The Bur Dubai-based resident said Reshma was working with Emirates NBD and was headed to Mangalore after two years as she wanted her parents to see their daughter. She had been debating whether to fly on May 19 or 21 and had opted for the latter as she could spend two days in Dubai with him and their eldest son, Milind, 16, he said. But little did the family know what lay ahead. "As a family, we used to make it a point never to be apart for too long," he said, adding that Reshma was supposed to return on June 4.

He also said he had known Reshma since his college days when they were studying law in Mangalore together. "We were bench-mates," he said.

Ironically, Rai said, it was the diamond mangalsutra - a necklace considered to be a symbol of marriage among Hindus - that helped identify Reshma's charred body after the crash. "It was hidden in the flesh," he said. He said the body of Naland could be identified due to a tooth gap that he had, while that of Viha could be identified by her white dress and also because she was one of the two infants on the flight. "My daughter did not wear a chain, while the other infant was wearing one."

Rai said his only surviving child Milind is a student of JSS School in Barsha. "He is very quiet and in shock," he said.

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News Network
February 24,2020

Hubli, Feb 24: Pro-Pakistan slogans were found written on the walls and doors of Higher Primary School in Budarsingi village here on Monday, said Raman Gouda Hatti, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), DCRB, Dharwad.

"The headmaster of the school noticed the slogans written on the walls and doors by chalk and he informed us. We will investigate the matter based on the complaint," said DSP Hatti.

The slogans were written in the Kannada language. Those behind the incident have not been identified so far.

The villagers staged a protest demanding action against those behind the act.

Congress leader HK Patil condemned the incident and asked for culprits to be identified and punished soon.

"Anti-social elements are involved in these acts. The government has failed to identify these people and punish them. The culprits behind this act need to be identified and punished. This incident is unfortunate and the intelligence department should work to stop these kinds of incidents," said Patil.

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News Network
February 9,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 9: Senior JD(S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has called upon all the regional parties and secular parties to join hands with the Congress and work in tandem to take on the BJP.

Noting that mere speeches would not help, he said the regional and secular parties should enhance their strength politically in the country.

"We all need to join together with Congress and work in tandem with the available strength only then will we be able to stop them (the BJP)," the JD(S) supremo said at a public meeting organised by the party in Hassan district on Saturday.

Gowda cautioned the regional and secular parties against sitting idle watching the developments in the country.

"If the small and regional parties do not exercise the powers given by Dr B R Ambedkar to the country, they (BJP) are going to the extent of finishing them up," he said. Interestingly, the JD(S) patriarch, had in the run-up to the December bypolls to Karnataka assembly said he would not align with the Congress and dubbed it as "not trustworthy."

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News Network
January 24,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 24: Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh on Friday said that a specialised task force to manage natural disasters would soon be constituted in all talukas of the Dakshina Kannada district, an official statement said here.

She further said in a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority that during the floods last monsoon there was a shortage of boats to rescue stranded residents from flood-hit areas. Hence, more boats would be procured for the Home Guards and the Fire and Emergency Services.

She also instructed officials to make sure that schools have their own disaster management plans and also advised them to carry emergency materials kit, used during a natural disaster, in their vehicles.

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