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British Airways to pay Rs 5L for not helping stranded fliers

February 2, 2014

British_AirwaysNew Delhi, Feb 2: British Airways has been directed by a consumer forum to pay Rs 2.5 lakh each to two doctors for leaving them to "fend for themselves" after their flight from London to Delhi was cancelled due to a snowstorm.

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission said the airline "violated the basic courteous behaviour" expected of it by not making arrangements of food and stay for its passengers and their "violation of duty to care" is "actionable negligence".

The state commission made the observation while dismissing the airline's appeal against the order of a district consumer forum which had directed it to pay Rs 2.5 lakh each to the two Delhi-based doctors - Kamal Kumar and Mukesh Mehra.

"We find the appellant (airline) has violated the basic courteous behaviour by adding insult to humiliation caused to the complainant and other co-passenger by simply giving them marching orders to fend for themselves without any support in terms of food, stay arrangements and other conveniences.

"The attitude of the appellant had caused great stress mental tension agony emotional and physical suffering to the complainant as well as loss of medical practice. This is all nothing but deficiency of service by opposite party (airline) by not stretching out helping hand to passengers in time of crises... and is highly unbecoming," a bench of members S A Siddiqui and S C Jain said.

The airline in its appeal had contended that an unprecedented snowstorm in London had disrupted flights as well as shut down the city due to which majority of the ground staff of British Airways were unable to reach the airport and as result, the passengers could not be taken care of.

Citing the defence of act of god, the airline had said it is not liable to pay any compensation to the passengers.

The two doctors, in their separate complaints filed in the district forum, had said they had gone to Zurich to attend a medical conference and were scheduled to return to Delhi via London by a British Airways flight on January 30, 2003.

However, after they boarded the flight from London, they were told it was cancelled and were asked to de-board as well as arrange for food, stay and alternate tickets for their journey to Delhi on their own without any help from the airline, they had said in their complaints.

The district forum, on their complaints, had held the airline guilty of providing deficient service.

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Agencies
August 2,2020

Ayodhya, Aug 2: With the foundation laying ceremony of the grand Ram temple around the corner, the work at the stone-carving workshop of Ram Janambhoomi in Ayodhya has reached its final stage.

Speaking to news agency, caretaker of Ram temple stone workshop Hanuman Yadav said, "Stonework is ready for the construction work till the first floor of the temple. Cleaning work is almost done but some work is still left which will be done soon after the trust's meeting."

Talking about the characteristics of the sandstone chosen work the construction, he said, "It was chosen for the construction as it can withstand rigours for thousands of years. These designated stones are minutely carved according to the need of the temple."

The stone-carving workshop for the Ram temple construction was established in Ayodhya by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in 1990.

On August 5 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ayodhya for rituals that will mark the beginning of Ram temple construction, Hanumangarhi is the first stop he would be visiting.

The construction of Ram temple will begin in Ayodhya after the ceremony to lay the foundation stone in which various dignitaries from the political and religious fields are likely to participate apart from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. 

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News Network
January 6,2020

Jan 6: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday said the country's economy is not showing good signs though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has manifested tremendous leadership skills in fighting terror and in social welfare projects.

The fiscal decisions of the government have not yielded the desired results, the Rajya Sabha MP said here.

"Modi had shown tremendous leadership skill in fighting terror, in several social areas, micro areas like bringing toilets to every village home. But the economy is a complex system...," he said while taking part in a discussion.

While every minister is talking about a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024, but the current GDP growth has to be multiplied in four years to achieve that, the former Union minister said.

He said, if wages are slashed as a measure to cope with the situation, labor will become cheap but that will also cut down the people's purchasing power triggering dip in demand, closing down factories and rise in unemployment.

"This is one problem for which you really need an economist," he said.

Swamy said in jest, "I think Modi has one problem with me. Not only I am an economist but also a politician."

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News Network
June 27,2020

Hyderabad, Jun 27: Ahead nurse working with a state-run hospital here died on Friday while undergoing treatment for COVID-19, a hospital official said.

The nurse, who was due to retire this month-end, tested positive about 10 days ago, he said.

The woman, who had been on medical leave for about 20 days, is suspected to have contracted the virus when she attended a private function in a neighbouring district, he said.

She was treated at the hospital for two days after she was found positive for COVID-19.

However, she was shifted to another government hospital as the symptoms continued unabated and sugar levels were high, he said.

The woman, who had comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension, died today.

Meanwhile, about 20 healthcare personnel, including doctors and paramedical staff, have so far tested positive for COVID-19 at the state-run Gandhi hospital, according to a hospital official.

He also said that there are around 50 patients whose family members have not come forward to take them home though the patients can be in home quarantine.

Family members have cited reasons such as residents not allowing a positive patient to return to the villages and presence of children at residences, for not taking them home, he added.

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