Udupi, September 11, 2025: The Karnataka government has launched a skill development initiative for unemployed youth registered under the Yuvanidhi scheme, one of the state’s five guarantee programs. Beneficiaries receiving unemployment allowances through direct cash transfers for six consecutive months are now eligible to enroll in skill training and entrepreneurship programs via the Industry Linkage Cell. Interested youth can register at https://www.kaushalkar.com/.
Under the Yuvanidhi Plus program, the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood will provide training through government institutes such as Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Government Tool Room and Training Centres (GTTC), Karnataka German Technical Training Institute (KGTTI), and SIDAC. The initiative aims to equip young men and women with employable skills and foster entrepreneurial opportunities.
For further details, beneficiaries can contact the District Skill Development Office located at B Block, First Floor, Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, Rajatadri, Manipal, Udupi, or call 0820-2574204, as per an official release from the office.
In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the Udupi CEN (Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics) Crime Police Station seized 65 kg of ganja from a lorry on National Highway 66 near Kinnimulky on Thursday, September 11, 2025. The operation was based on credible intelligence about illegal transportation of narcotics.
The lorry, traveling from Mangaluru towards Udupi, was intercepted during a routine check. Upon thorough inspection, officers discovered the ganja concealed within the vehicle. The seized contraband, valued at several lakhs, marks a significant haul in the region’s ongoing fight against drug smuggling.
Kundapur, September 11, 2025: A suspected suicide was reported on the railway tracks under the Kalavara Railway Bridge in Kalavara village, Kundapur taluk, Udupi district, on September 11, 2025. The body of an unidentified man, aged approximately 35-40 years, was discovered on the tracks at Kilometer 662/14-16 and 662/4-5. The incident was reported to the complainant, Raghavendra (49) from Kalavar village, by his senior section engineer Vireesh, who informed him of a collision between train No. 12790 (Down Express) from Murudeshwar to Kanchikode at around 5:10 PM.
Raghavendra rushed to the scene and found the man’s body lying between the railway lines. With the help of locals, the body was removed from the tracks and placed on the side. The deceased had a severed head, and his arms and legs were crushed. He was wearing blue jeans and a coffee-colored full-sleeve shirt, and had a beard. The position of the body suggests he lay across the tracks intentionally, pointing to a possible suicide.
The Kundapur Rural Police Station has registered a case under UDR No. 31/2025 and Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Efforts to identify the deceased are ongoing.
Udupi, September 10, 2025: The District Sunni Coordination Committee, an umbrella body of 10 Sunni organizations in Udupi, has announced a grand Milad Jatha to commemorate the 1500th birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH) on Saturday, September 13, 2025. The event, organized under the theme of unity and devotion, will feature a Maulid Majlis and a procession through key streets of Udupi city.
In a press conference held at Udupi Press Club on September 10, K.A. Abdurrahman Razvi Kalkatte, President of the Committee, detailed the program. The day will begin with a Maulid Majlis (recitation session) at Anjuman Masjid at 2:30 PM, followed by the Milad Jatha starting at 3:30 PM from the masjid. The procession will proceed via Service Bus Stand, K.M. Marg, and Court Road, concluding at Hutatma Bhavan near Ajjarkad Chowk. The route is designed to pass through prominent areas, symbolizing the Prophet’s message of peace and harmony.
Spiritual leaders Assayyid Jafar Assakhaaf Thaal, B.A. Ismail Madani Mavinkatte (President, Udupi District Ulema Okkuta), Assistant Qazi Abdurrahman Madani Moodlooru, and Maulana Shaukat Razvi Udupi (President, Hafize Millat Academy) will lead the Majlis recitations. The procession’s flag will be handed over to district Sunni organization presidents by Assayyid Ibrahim Junaid Arrifai Thaal Ranginakeri, President of the Milad Welcome Committee.
The concluding program at Hutatma Chowk will feature speeches by Maulana Mufti Badruddin Misbahi Karkala and Ahmed Sharif Saadi Al Kamil Killelooru. The committee expects around 5,000 participants, including high-ranking ulema, sadats, and scouts, with attractive dhol performances adding to the festive atmosphere.
Razvi emphasized the event’s significance in promoting the Prophet’s teachings of compassion and unity, inviting all community members to join. The Milad Welcome Committee’s convener Abdul Wahid Anjuman and Umar Farooq R.K. were also present at the press conference.
Kundapura, September 10, 2025: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader has instructed the Udupi district administration to utilize the Sigandur barge, previously used for public transport across the Sharavati River, for connectivity between Kodi and Gangolli via the Panchagangavali River. The directive, issued on August 30, 2025, aims to provide immediate relief to locals until the long-proposed bridge between the two coastal towns is constructed, potentially revolutionizing transport and tourism in the region.
The decision follows persistent demands from residents and follows the inauguration of the Sigandur Bridge over the Sharavati River, which has rendered the barge redundant at its original location. The barge, operational for over six decades, facilitated crossings at the Kodlu-Kalasavalli ferry point. With the bridge now in place, relocating it to the 1-km stretch between Kodi and Gangolli—where boat travel currently takes 20 minutes—could significantly ease daily commutes for thousands of residents.
The initiative was highlighted in a Gangolli Newsreport on July 20, 2025, emphasizing how the barge could boost Kundapur’s overall development. During a visit to Kundapur, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Tourism Minister H.K. Patil assured support for the barge service following local requests. Council Chairman Manjunath Bhandari also submitted a formal appeal to the government, prompting Khader’s intervention.
Benefits of the Barge Service
The relocation is expected to offer multiple advantages:
Emergency Medical Transport: In critical situations, patients from Gangolli can reach Kundapur Hospital in minutes.
Fresh Seafood Delivery: Gangolli’s fish catch can reach Kundapur markets swiftly, benefiting local traders.
Tourism Boost: The service will enhance tourism infrastructure, attracting visitors to the coastal route.
Integration with Ring Road: With Kundapur’s ring road now operational, connectivity from Gangolli to Kundapur will be seamless.
Business and Cargo: Entrepreneurs can transport goods more efficiently.
Student Access: Post-PU students can easily commute to Kundapur colleges.
Time Savings: The barge could reduce travel time to 10-15 minutes, compared to the current 45-minute bus ride via a 16-km detour or over an hour via Hemmadi-Tallur.
The proposed Gangolli-Kundapur bridge, discussed three decades ago, remains stalled. The barge offers a practical interim solution, aligning with government priorities for coastal connectivity.
The directive, referenced as UDC-15024/617/2025-UDC-DC-Magisterial-Udupi DC, was issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner Abid Ismail Gudal on September 8, 2025, to the Executive Engineer, Ports and Fisheries Department, Udupi. It encloses Khader’s note and mandates compliance with regulations, followed by a report to the administration.
Residents and local leaders have welcomed the move, viewing it as a step toward bridging the connectivity gap and fostering economic growth in the coastal belt.
NDA Candidate, emerged victorious, defeating the opposition INDIA bloc candidate, Justice (retd) B. Sudershan Reddy. The election results were announced on September 9, 2025, following a direct contest between the two candidates.
The election saw participation from 767 Members of Parliament (MPs) out of the 781-member electoral college, with 14 MPs absent. C.P. Radhakrishnan secured 452 first-preference votes, while B. Sudershan Reddy received 300 votes. Additionally, 15 votes were declared invalid, and 13 MPs reportedly engaged in cross-voting, as per official reports. The NDA’s comfortable majority in the electoral college, comprising members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ensured Radhakrishnan’s win.
Radhakrishnan, a veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and the current Governor of Maharashtra, becomes the 15th Vice President of India and the third leader from Tamil Nadu to hold the post, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned on July 21, 2025, citing health reasons. Radhakrishnan’s extensive political career includes serving as a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore, former Tamil Nadu BJP State President, and Governor of Jharkhand, with additional charges as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Radhakrishnan, expressing confidence that his leadership would strengthen parliamentary democracy. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while extending best wishes, urged the new Vice President to uphold parliamentary traditions and ensure fairness for the opposition.
Mangaluru, September 9, 2025: A tragic accident occurred near Kuloor Royal Oak in Mangaluru when a scooter rider, identified as Madhavi, an employee at A.J. Hospital, lost her life after her vehicle hit a pothole on the highway, causing her to be thrown onto the road. A fish lorry following closely behind ran over her, resulting in her death at the scene.
Madhavi was riding her scooter from Kuloor towards A.J. Hospital for work when the vehicle hit a pothole, causing it to skid and topple. The impact threw her onto the road, where the lorry ran over her abdomen, leading to fatal injuries. Her body was subsequently sent to A.J. Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Officers from the Mangaluru North Traffic Police visited the accident site for inspection and have seized both the fish lorry and the scooter involved in the incident. A case has been registered at the Mangaluru North Traffic Police Station, and further investigations are underway to ascertain additional details.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by potholes on Mangaluru’s highways, raising concerns about road safety in the region.
Udupi, September 9, 2025: In a daring heist, unidentified burglars broke into a jewelry workshop near Chittaranjan Circle in Udupi on the night of Monday, September 8, 2025, making off with assets of significant value. The targeted establishment, Vaibhav Refiner, a facility specializing in melting gold and silver, was breached after the thieves broke the shutter lock to gain entry.
Preliminary reports indicate that the burglars stole liquid gold along with other valuable items, though the exact extent of the theft is yet to be fully determined as further details are awaited. The incident has raised concerns about security in the area, given the high value of the stolen goods.
Udupi DYSP Prabhu D.T. and Udupi Town Police Station Inspector Manjunath Badiger visited the site to conduct an initial investigation. Authorities are actively probing the case to identify the culprits and assess the total value of the stolen assets.
Yallapur, September 8, 2025: A devastating incident occurred near Kiravatti in Yallapur taluk, where a tree collapse resulted in the deaths of Savitri Bagu Kharat (28), a five-month-pregnant woman, and Swati Babu Kharat (17), a student. The tragedy struck in Domageri as Savitri was returning from an Anganwadi center when the tree suddenly fell on them. Savitri succumbed to her injuries on the spot, while Swati, critically injured, passed away en route to the hospital.
Three children—Ghatu Lakku Kokare (5), Shravani Babu Kharat (2), and Shambhavi Babu Kharat (4)—sustained serious injuries and were rushed to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi for treatment. Additionally, Sanvi Babu Kokare (5), Vinay Lakku Kokare (5), and Anushree Mambu Kokare (5) escaped with minor injuries and are receiving care at Yallapur Hospital. The force of the falling tree also damaged nearby electric poles.
Upon hearing of the incident, Yallapur MLA Shivaram Hebbar visited the site and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. A case has been registered at Yallapur Police Station, and further investigations are underway to determine the cause of the tree fall.
Kundapur, September 8, 2025: Residents of Gulvadi, along with members of the Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, Prantha Krishi Koolikarara Sangha, Hanchu Workers, and Building and Construction Workers, staged a protest in front of the Gulvadi Panchayat office, demanding the introduction of KSRTC bus services on the route from Kundapur to Gulvadi via Tallur and Mavinakatte, extending to Saukoor and Kandlur. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the Transport Commissioner through the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO), highlighting the urgent need for reliable public transport.
The demonstrators pointed out that private buses on this route operate irregularly, causing significant inconvenience to students, women, and patients who rely on timely transportation. They emphasized that KSRTC services would provide access to benefits like the Shakti Scheme for free travel for women and bus passes for students, addressing the community’s mobility challenges.
The protest was led by prominent local leaders, including J.D. Panju, Nagaraj, Chandra, Bhaskar, and H. Narasimha from the Hanchu Workers; Nagarathna and Shobha from the Krishi Koolikara Sangha; Sheelavathi from Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane; and Chandrashekar V., Rehman, Annappa, and Rajeev Padukone from the Building and Construction Workers. Their unified call underscored the community’s frustration with the lack of dependable transport options and the need for government intervention.
