Here are the big stories from Karnataka today
Karnataka saw a flurry of developments on October 16, spanning preparations for Mysuru Dasara, a surge in rail passenger traffic, a major research milestone in nuclear safety at Mangalore University, and a police case involving a Mangaluru priest. Here are the key updates.
150 pairs of buffaloes to depart Puttur for Mysuru Dasara Kambala on October 17
As the Mysuru Dasara Kambala approaches, 150 pairs of racing buffaloes are set to leave Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district for Mysuru on October 17, according to Belapu Deviprasad Shetty, president of the Karnataka State Kambala Association. The Kambala, organised by the Mysuru Dasara Executive Committee, will be held over two days from October 18.
Mr. Shetty said the animals will be transported in separate vehicles from the Mahalingeshwar Temple in Puttur, with departures scheduled for 8 a.m. Owners will be issued travel passes at the temple premises before the convoy proceeds. The buffaloes are expected to reach Kushalnagar around noon for a two-hour rest before resuming the journey at 3.30 p.m. All teams are slated to arrive in Mysuru by approximately 6.30 p.m.
Preparations in Mysuru are already underway, with a trial run of the Kambala track having been conducted in the city on October 15, 2026.
Mysuru railway division records 3.10 lakh passenger footfall in first five days of Dasara 2026
The South Western Railway’s Mysuru division reported a total passenger footfall of 3.10 lakh during the first five days of Dasara 2026, generating ₹3.11 crore in ticket revenue. The division said it has put in place comprehensive measures to handle the festive rush and ensure safe, smooth and comfortable travel for passengers.
For context, during last year’s Dasara celebrations the division recorded a cumulative footfall of 6.95 lakh, averaging 69,523 passengers per day, and earned ₹5.43 crore from ticket sales. In 2024, total footfall stood at 7.41 lakh with a daily average of 67,423 passengers, while ticket revenue increased to ₹6.14 crore.
Mangalore University unveils dedicated iodine aerosol research facility to bolster nuclear safety
In what it described as a national first, Mangalore University announced the establishment of a dedicated experimental facility for iodine aerosol generation and characterisation at its Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER), located at Mangalagangotri. The university made the announcement on October 16.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), will support joint research in radiation protection and nuclear reactor safety. University officials said the state-of-the-art facility fills a critical gap in the country’s nuclear safety research infrastructure by focusing on iodine aerosols—an area widely recognised as a challenging aspect of radiation protection in the nuclear energy sector.
Mangaluru priest booked for alleged sexual assault of five 14-year-old boys
Mangaluru City Police have booked Siprian Pinto, a priest at St. Vincent Ferrar Church in Valencia, on charges of aggravated sexual assault against five boys, each aged 14. The case was registered at the Mangaluru South police station on October 15 following a complaint by one of the children.
According to the complaint, the priest allegedly gave the boy a chocolate and complimented his smile before taking him to a room on the church premises and inappropriately touching him. The child further alleged that on subsequent visits to the church for prayers, the priest touched his private parts and, in another instance, hugged him and put his hands inside the boy’s undergarments.
The complainant later shared his experience with four friends, who also claimed to have faced similar behaviour. The boy then informed his parents, who approached the Bishop of Mangaluru. The Bishop is said to have advised the family to file a police complaint, following which the case was registered. Police proceedings are underway.
These developments capture a day of contrasts in Karnataka—a blend of cultural preparations, public transport activity, scientific progress, and serious law enforcement action—reflecting the state’s diverse and dynamic news landscape as Dasara festivities gather momentum.
