Latest news with #HinduMahaKumbh
Reuters
28-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Air India's budget airline head expects capacity growth to outpace demand
NEW DELHI, March 28 (Reuters) - The head of Air India Express said on Friday that the increased capacity Indian carriers expect to add in coming years will outpace demand, which may potentially bring down ticket prices, as the airline industry comes under criticism for rising fares. India's domestic air travel sector is among the fastest growing in the world, but just two carriers - IndiGo and Air India, parent of Air India Express - control about 90% of the market. Criticism around rising fares has been growing. Earlier this year, India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), was forced to step in and ask airlines to cut fares after prices soared during the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival. "The capacity that we expect coming into the market, not just over the next year, but over the next several years, in all probability, will stay ahead of the demand," Managing Director Aloke Singh told reporters, when asked about air fare concerns. His comments come days after an Indian parliament committee recommended giving the DGCA the power to regulate air fares, currently based on demand and supply considerations. Indian airlines are expected to add 96 aircraft to their fleet this calendar year, according to data from consultancy Cirium Ascend, slightly less than in the previous two years. Express will add about 15 aircraft to its fleet in the next fiscal year, which begins on April 1, with some procured from Air India, Singh said. It is also working on a "long term" fleet plan, he said, without elaborating. Capacity should rise by about 45% next year, enabling the airline to carry an average of 2.5 million passengers per month, up from 2 million passengers the previous year, Singh said. Express added about 37 planes last year, consisting of Boeing's (BA.N), opens new tab 737 MAX jets and Airbus ( opens new tab A320neo and A320ceo aircraft. The company plans to complete the addition of economy class seats to its aircraft by the beginning of fiscal year 2027, Singh said. The carrier is also looking to deepen arrangements with international low-cost airlines Scoot, Jazeera Airways and Air Arabia, among others, allowing passengers more options.
ARN News Center
18-02-2025
- Politics
- ARN News Center
18 dead after stampede at New Delhi railway station
At least 18 people died in a stampede at the main railway station in India's capital New Delhi on Saturday night, the chief minister of the capital territory told reporters early on Sunday. The incident occurred around 2000 local time (1830 GST) on two platforms as passengers waited to board trains to Prayagraj city, where the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival is being hosted, media reports said. Delhi's chief minister Atishi, who only uses one name, said on X that many of the victims were pilgrims who were going to attend the Maha Kumbh. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some other federal ministers confirmed the stampede incident in posts on X without disclosing the death toll. "Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones," Modi said on X. India's Interior Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X that he had spoken to the railway minister and taken stock of the situation. An enquiry was ordered into the incident and four special trains were dispatched to evacuate the rush caused at the railway station, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X, adding that the situation is now under control. "The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident," he said. Dozens of people were killed in a pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh in northern India last month as tens of millions of Hindus gathered to take a dip in sacred river waters on the most auspicious day of a six-week festival. Delhi's lieutenant-governor VK Saxena, one of the capital territory's top officials, also visited the hospital to meet those injured in Saturday's incident, local media showed. "This is a very tragic incident and we pray for those who have lost their lives," Atishi said. India has witnessed several rail accidents in the last two years, including a collision in 2023 that killed at least 288 people. Indian railways is the fourth largest train network in the world and is undergoing a $30 billion upgrade, as part of Modi's push to boost connectivity.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
Indian crowd crush survivors describe chaos as death toll rises
STORY: People were still seen pushing to pack into trains in India's capital city on Sunday, even as the death toll rose from a crowd crush the night before. A railway public relations officer said at least a dozen and a half people were killed. Several children were among them, according to local media reports. The tragedy took place on Saturday evening in New Delhi's main railway station. Media reports said passengers were waiting to board trains to Prayagraj city, where the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival was taking place, when the crowd suddenly surged. This man was one of those heading to the festival. His wife was killed in the crush. "The crowd started pushing and people were falling over us," he said. "My wife passed away on the spot." There were scenes of chaos as those injured were rushed to hospital. This man said his mother died after being crushed under the surge of people. Deputy police commissioner K P S Malhotra told reporters that two trains had been delayed, leading to an increase of people gathered on the platforms. The country's railway minister said an enquiry had been ordered into the incident.
Dubai Eye
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
18 dead after stampede at New Delhi railway station
At least 18 people died in a stampede at the main railway station in India's capital New Delhi on Saturday night, the chief minister of the capital territory told reporters early on Sunday. The incident occurred around 2000 local time (1830 GST) on two platforms as passengers waited to board trains to Prayagraj city, where the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival is being hosted, media reports said. Delhi's chief minister Atishi, who only uses one name, said on X that many of the victims were pilgrims who were going to attend the Maha Kumbh. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some other federal ministers confirmed the stampede incident in posts on X without disclosing the death toll. "Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones," Modi said on X. India's Interior Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X that he had spoken to the railway minister and taken stock of the situation. An enquiry was ordered into the incident and four special trains were dispatched to evacuate the rush caused at the railway station, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X, adding that the situation is now under control. "The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident," he said. Dozens of people were killed in a pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh in northern India last month as tens of millions of Hindus gathered to take a dip in sacred river waters on the most auspicious day of a six-week festival. Delhi's lieutenant-governor VK Saxena, one of the capital territory's top officials, also visited the hospital to meet those injured in Saturday's incident, local media showed. "This is a very tragic incident and we pray for those who have lost their lives," Atishi said. India has witnessed several rail accidents in the last two years, including a collision in 2023 that killed at least 288 people. Indian railways is the fourth largest train network in the world and is undergoing a $30 billion upgrade, as part of Modi's push to boost connectivity.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 15 dead after stampede at New Delhi station
At least 15 people have died and another 15 are injured after a stampede at the main railway station in India's capital New Delhi . The incident occurred around 8pm local time on Saturday on two platforms as passengers waited to board trains to Prayagraj city, where the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival is being hosted, media reports said. The death toll included 10 women and three children, local media said. Media showed images and videos of crowds pouring over each other at the station, following the incident, as police and relief teams toiled to ease the congestion. Delhi's chief minister Atishi, who only uses one name, said on X that many of the victims were pilgrims who were going to attend the Maha Kumbh. Am headed to LNJP Hospital, where the injured and the dead have been taken from the New Delhi railway station stampede. — Atishi (@AtishiAAP) February 15, 2025 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some other federal ministers confirmed the stampede incident in posts on X without disclosing the death toll. "Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones," Modi said on X. India's Interior Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X that he had spoken to the railway minister and taken stock of the situation. An inquiry was ordered into the incident and four special trains were dispatched to evacuate the rush caused at the railway station, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X, adding that the situation is now under control. Situation under control at New Delhi railway station (NDLS) Delhi Police and RPF reached. Injured taken to hospital. Special trains being run to evacuate sudden rush. — Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 15, 2025 "The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident," he said. Dozens of people were killed in a pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh in northern India last month as tens of millions of Hindus gathered to take a dip in sacred river waters on the most auspicious day of a six-week festival. Delhi's lieutenant-governor VK Saxena, one of the capital territory's top officials, also visited the hospital to meet those injured in Saturday's incident, local media showed. "This is a very tragic incident and we pray for those who have lost their lives," Atishi said. India has witnessed several rail accidents in the last two years, including a collision in 2023 that killed at least 288 people. Indian railways is the fourth largest train network in the world and is undergoing a $US30 billion ($A47 billion) upgrade, as part of Modi's push to boost connectivity.
