bangalore news times

Vijayanagara : The historic Tungabhadra Dam, regarded as the lifeline of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is set to witness a landmark moment on Thursday with the inauguration of 33 newly installed crest gates. The event has gained significant importance as the Chief Ministers of all three beneficiary states are expected to participate on a common platform, highlighting the dam’s crucial role in the region’s water security and agricultural economy. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the Government High School grounds in Munirabad. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar will lead the programme, while the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, along with Union ministers, senior officials and public representatives, are expected to attend. According to officials, the newly installed crest gates will first be formally inaugurated at the dam site. This will be followed by a public function in Munirabad. Sources said di...

Bengaluru : Bengaluru Traffic Police have clarified that traffic congestion was not responsible for three students missing entry to the NEET examination on Sunday, countering allegations made by several political leaders. According to police, CCTV footage and route analysis revealed that the students left their homes late and chose longer routes to reach their examination centres. CCTV analysis and route verification have established that the NEET candidate reached the examination centre after the stipulated cutoff time. Traffic conditions were found to be normal, and traffic police personnel facilitated movement wherever required. The delay was primarily… pic.twitter.com/1bxQ7jgiKM — ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಸಂಚಾರ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ BengaluruTrafficPolice (@blrcitytraffic) June 23, 2026 The controversy erupted after three candidates were denied entry to their NEET examination centres for arriving beyond the stipulated reporting time. Opposition leaders, including BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and Uni...

Bengaluru : The Bengaluru Forest Mobile Squad has arrested a man for allegedly capturing, slaughtering and selling the meat of India’s national bird, the peacock, in Chikkaballapur district. The accused has been identified as Sadiq Pasha. According to forest officials, the accused was allegedly operating from a farmhouse at Baiyappanahalli village in Chikkaballapur taluk, where peacock meat was being sold illegally. Acting on a credible tip-off, officials conducted a raid and apprehended the suspect. During the operation, the forest team seized around 3 kg of peacock meat, along with peacock eggs and skeletal remains believed to belong to the protected bird . Officials also rescued a live peacock from the premises. Also Read 51 years after submergence, historic Vittala temple emerges Peacocks are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, and hunting, possession, trade or consumption of the bird is a serious offence. Forest authorities said the accused had allegedl...

Hubballi : Kannada organisations have unexpectedly withdrawn a planned large-scale protest against the Railway Board over its decision not to offer Kannada as a language option in departmental promotion examinations. The move comes after hundreds of Kannada-speaking railway employees appealed to activists not to disrupt the upcoming examination scheduled for June 25. The controversy began when the Railway Board decided to conduct promotion examinations only in Hindi and English, triggering strong opposition from Kannada groups. Their earlier agitation had successfully forced the cancellation of the examination, with activists demanding that Kannada be included as an examination language. However, the situation took a different turn after more than 200 Kannada-speaking railway employees approached the organisations with a written request. The employees expressed concern that any further postponement or cancellation of the examination could severely affect their careers. Many...

Kolar : Mango growers and leaders of various farmers’ organisations staged protests across different parts of Kolar district on Monday, June 22, demanding that the state government immediately announce a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for mangoes and come to the aid of distressed farmers. The agitation was led by the District Mango Growers Welfare Association, which has also called for a district-wide bandh over the issue. The bandh received a strong response in Srinivaspur, one of Karnataka’s major mango-growing regions, while demonstrations were held in Kolar city and other taluk headquarters. As part of the protest, farmers dumped mangoes on roads and blocked vehicular movement to express their anger over the sharp fall in market prices. Growers alleged that they were being forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices despite investing heavily in cultivation. Also Read Karnataka mango growers threaten bandh over price crash Association president Neelatur...

Belagavi : As delayed monsoon rains continue to impact water levels across north Karnataka, a remarkable piece of history has resurfaced from the depths of the Hidkal reservoir in Belagavi district. The historic Vittala Temple, which remained submerged under the reservoir’s backwaters for more than five decades, has once again emerged in full view, drawing thousands of devotees and history enthusiasts. Located in Hunnur village of Hukkeri taluk, the temple was originally constructed in 1928 and served as an important place of worship for local residents. However, the structure was submerged in 1978 after the completion of the Hidkal Dam project and the subsequent filling of the reservoir. The reappearance of the temple is being described as a rare event. Since the formation of the reservoir, the temple has emerged from the water only twice. The first instance occurred in 2023, when severe drought conditions caused water levels to recede dramatically after nearly 48 years....