Mangalore: Bellevision reporter helps stranded Kuwait passenger to reach the airport

By John V Tauro, Mangalore
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 28 Febraury 2012: The All-India Strike organised by the trade unions had quite an effect  on the normal life of the people in Mangalore. The sign, that the strike was near total could be seen  by the fact that most of the busy roads were deserted as private buses and even smaller vehicles thought it prudent to keep off the road. Few pedestrians could be seen on the roads around the KSRTC Bus stand at Lalbagh. Main business centres in Hampankatta, Milagres Circle and Kankanady Circle were practically deserted with few people venturing  out.

 

When this reporter was at Kankanady to find out the impact of the All-India Strike on common people, he came across a person frantically waving for a cab or any other vehicle as he had t go to the airport to board  the Air India Express  flight to Kuwait. On inquiry, the person said that his name was Raphael Quadros from  Kundapur. As he had to travel to Kuwait on Tuesday, February, 28, 2012, which happened to be the day on which All-India Strike was announced, his friend had advised him to go to Mangalore on the previous day and take a vehicle from Mangalore to the airport.

 

 

 

Raphael took the advice of his friend and did as he had directed him and stayed for the night in a hotel near Kankanady. However, for his bad luck no taxi driver or any other person could drive him to the airport for the fear of being attacked by the striking workers. The rickshaw drivers whom he approached said that they are supporting the strike. They told him, it seems,  that they would not mind to take him to  hospital, but not to the airport.  Raphael had to reach the airport at 3 pm so that he can board the flight to Kuwait leaving the airport at  6 pm.

 

It was almost 3.15 pm and Raphael was getting panicky of missing the flight. However, this reporter who had known Raphael as he was also a returnee from Kuwait volunteered to drive him to the airport. As the roads were practically deserted, by 3.30 pm the vehicle reached the airport and Raphael heaved a long sigh of relief, profusely thanked this reporter of Bellevision for the timely help that was rendered to him.