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United Airlines outage grounds US flights, disrupts India-bound travel and diaspora plans – ThePrint – PTIFeed

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Houston, Aug 7 (PTI) A sweeping technology outage forced United Airlines to ground flights across the US, causing widespread delays and cancellations that affected thousands of passengers — including many from the Indian diaspora flying home for weddings, family visits, or returning to work after summer.

The glitch, traced to the airline’s aging Unimatic system used for flight dispatch and load planning, brought operations at major hubs to a halt for several hours on Wednesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that United requested a nationwide ground stop, which has since been lifted, but delays were still rippling across the network on Thursday.

United called it a “controllable delay”, pledging to cover hotels and related costs where needed, and emphasized that the outage was not cybersecurity-related.

“Safety is our top priority, and we’ll work with our customers to get them to their destinations,” the airline said in a statement.

FlightAware, a website tracking flight disruptions, reported that about 35 per cent of all the airline’s flights were delayed and 7 per cent were cancelled Wednesday.

United’s travel alert warned of disruptions through the weekend at key US and international airports including Newark, Houston, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, New York, Honolulu, Guam, London, Frankfurt and Munich.

Among those impacted was Ishya K, a young consultant, originally from Houston, and now working in Manhattan, who had flown over the weekend to visit her family. Her evening flight to New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) was first delayed for hours and then abruptly cancelled just before midnight.

“There was so much chaos at the airport as United didn’t know what was going on.They finally told us around 11 pm that we weren’t flying out,” she said. “I reached home past midnight after hours at the airport, and now I’ve been rebooked for a late flight today and hope there are no more delays.” Others missed international connections altogether. Michael Tran, who was headed to Japan from Houston via San Francisco, was stranded overnight and unsure whether he’d make it in time for a long-planned trip.

For the Indian-American community, peak summer travel collided with deeply personal commitments. Nisha Mehra, a professional, originally from Delhi, missed her flight to India — and with it, the first wedding in her family she would have attended in a decade.

“This was my chance to reconnect with my family in Chandigarh after so many years,” she said, tearing up at the terminal. “I had my bags packed with gifts for all the cousins. Now I’m hoping I can get there before the last event.” Passengers across the country described hours inside aircraft after landing, waiting for gates to open due to a system-wide standstill. “The first hour, people were already walking around the cabin because there was nothing to do,” said one passenger. “Eventually they found a gate, but it still took another 45 minutes to get there.” The FAA said it continues to assist United in resolving the backlog. “We’ve offered full support to help address their flight backlog and remain in close contact,” the agency said.

United apologised publicly via social media. “Hey there, we apologise for the travel disruption today,” it said in response to customer complaints. “Our teams are working to resolve the outage as quickly as possible.” While operations are slowly resuming, United warned that passengers flying in or out of affected cities may continue to face delays. PTI SHK NPK NPK

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.



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Indian Railways: THESE 10 trains schedule to travel to Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir cancelled due to THIS reason

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Heavy Rain Alert: The heavy rain and waterlogging on railway tracks have forced the cancellation of many trains. In order to verify the latest developments, customers are advised to visit the nearest station or use the railway’s website or app before making any travel arrangements.

Indian Railways: Trains Cancelled Due To Heavy Rain – Check List

Indian Railways: The water level of the Yamuna Bridge in Old Delhi has risen above the danger level due to heavy rains and flooding. In order to ensure passenger safety in the mountainous areas, it has been decided to cancel, divert, and change the terminal of numerous trains, with the decision taking effect on September 4.

The list of cancelled trains are as follows:  

  • (12036) Delhi-Tanakpur Express, scheduled to depart Delhi on September 4, Cancelled.
  • (05194) Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan-Chhapra Special cancelled on September 10, 17, and 24.
  • (05193) Chhapra-Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Special cancelled on September 10, 17, and 24.
  • (12208) Jammutavi-Kathgodam Express cancelled on September 9, 16, 23, 30, and 7, 14, 21, 28. 
  • (12207) Kathgodam-Jammutvi  Express cancelled on September 9, 16, 23, 30, and 7, 14, 21, 28.
  • (12209) Kanpur Central-Kathgodam Express canceled on September 8, 15, 22, 29, and 9, 16, 23, and 30.
  • (12210) Kathgodam-Kanpur Central Express canceled on September 8, 15, 22, 29, and 9, 16, 23, and 30.
  • (14611) Ghazipur City-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express canceled on September 5, 12, 19, 26, and 4, 11, 18, 25.
  • (14612) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Ghazipur City Express canceled on September 5, 12, 19, 26, and 4, 11, 18, 25.

Waterlogging on rails, landslides, signal problems, or decreased visibility are some of the reasons why heavy rains frequently result in train cancellations, delays, or rescheduling. A number of trains have been canceled due to the severe rainfall and waterlogging on railway tracks. Before making travel any plans, passengers are asked to use the railway’s website or app or visit the closest station to check the most recent updates.



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India-China Flights Resume: A Curated Guide To Beijing And Beyond | Travel

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India-China Flights Resume: A Curated Guide To Beijing And Beyond

After a hiatus of more than five years, India and China are set to resume direct flights—a move that not only reconnects two of the world’s biggest economies but also reopens the door for travellers eager to explore one of Asia’s most storied destinations. For those planning their first journey to Beijing, the Chinese capital offers a striking mix of ancient dynasties and futuristic skylines. And for travellers with more time, China’s vast landscape stretches far beyond its capital, promising a mosaic of history, culture, and natural wonders.

The Great Wall of China

5 Must-See Experiences In Beijing For First-Time Visitors

1. The Great Wall of China

No first trip to China is complete without walking along the world’s most iconic fortification. Just outside Beijing, sections like Mutianyu and Jinshanling offer panoramic mountain views and fewer crowds than the busy Badaling stretch.

2. The Forbidden City

Step into the heart of imperial China at this UNESCO World Heritage site, once the seat of Ming and Qing emperors. The sprawling palace complex with its golden rooftops and intricate courtyards is a living museum of the country’s dynastic past.

The Forbidden City

3. Tiananmen Square

One of the world’s largest public squares, Tiananmen is both a political landmark and a place to witness the sheer scale of China’s national identity. Surrounded by monumental architecture, it’s best visited at dawn when the flag-raising ceremony takes place.

4. Summer Palace

A retreat from the bustle of the city, the Summer Palace offers willow-fringed lakes, ornate pavilions, and landscaped gardens. A boat ride across Kunming Lake is particularly magical in the late afternoon light.

Temple of Heaven

5. Temple of Heaven

This 15th-century masterpiece of Ming architecture is where emperors once prayed for good harvests. Its circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, with its triple-gabled roof, is a striking symbol of China’s spiritual traditions.

Beyond Beijing: 5 Destinations To Discover In China

Shanghai: A dazzling fusion of old-world elegance and modern ambition, Shanghai’s historic Bund contrasts with Pudong’s futuristic skyline. The city is also a culinary haven, from Michelin-starred dining to street-side dumpling stalls.

Xi’an: Once the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, Xi’an is most famous for the Terracotta Army. Its city walls and Muslim Quarter markets make it a must for history lovers.

Chengdu

Chengdu: Known worldwide for its panda sanctuaries, Chengdu is also the heart of Sichuan cuisine. Don’t leave without sampling a traditional hotpot.

Hangzhou: Beloved for the poetic beauty of West Lake, Hangzhou combines tranquil waters with tea plantations and ancient temples, making it a city of slow pleasures.

Guilin: Often described as China’s most beautiful landscape, Guilin’s karst mountains and the Li River create a painterly scene that has inspired generations of poets and artists.

Travel News – Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now.





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Student body protests against travel doc order, seeks Assam CAA exemption | Latest News India

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Assam’s largest student body on Thursday organised a statewide hunger strike against the Union government’s move to allow members of minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who came to India until December 31, 2024, to escape religious persecution, to stay without a passport or other travel documents.

The All Assam Students’ Union opposed the CAA. (ANI)

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which came into force last year, earlier applied only to those who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) said the latest order paved the way for undocumented Hindu Bangladeshis, who came until 2024, to remain in Assam. It demanded that Assam be completely excluded from its ambit. AASU said it strongly opposes the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025.

“Any conspiracy to settle illegal Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam until 2024 will never be accepted by the people of Assam or by AASU. This order is even more dangerous than the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA),” said AASU president Utpal Sharma and general secretary Samiran Phukan in a joint statement.

The statement said the government had violated the Assam Accord by passing the CAA, which granted citizenship to undocumented Hindu Bangladeshis.

The 1985 Assam Accord applied to undocumented immigrants irrespective of their religious affiliations. Indigenous groups in Assam argued the CAA could lead to an influx of immigrants from Bangladesh.

AASU has been seeking to exclude Assam from the ambit of the CAA. “…to suddenly pass this new order allowing illegal foreigners until 2024 is utterly unacceptable. This order is destructive to the indigenous population and completely communal,” the statement said.

AASU’s chief advisor, Samujjal Bhattacharyya, said their members were observing an 11-hour hunger strike at all district headquarters. “We decided to start a programme against the CAA last week, and now this new decision of the central government has been added. We are going to burn copies of the order across district headquarters.”

Bhattacharyya noted that Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh are excluded from the CAA. He added that 98% of Meghalaya, 70% of Tripura, and eight districts of Assam are also excluded. “Why should the rest of Assam bear the burden of immigrants alone?” He asked if CAA is bad for Sixth Schedule (tribal) areas and the states with Inner Line Permit, how can it be good for the rest of the 25 districts of Assam? “This state is not a dumping ground. We demand exclusion of the entire Assam from CAA, respecting the Assam Accord,” Bhattacharyya said.

He said a candle march, sit-in, and letters to the central government are planned. “Apart from exclusion of Assam from CAA, we demand an error-free NRC [National Register of Citizens], a special drive to push back all illegal migrants, action against fundamentalists visiting Assam, and implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord as per the Biplab Sharma committee’s recommendation. We are fighting to protect the originality of Assam.”

Congress leader Debabrata Saikia said the fresh order is against the spirit of the Assam Accord. “Earlier, we opposed CAA, and now we oppose this exemption. It allows infiltrators to stay until 2024. If this continues, Assam will lose its identity.” He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of destroying India’s future for its communal politics.

Dharmananda Deb, a former member of a Foreigners Tribunal in Silchar, said under CAA, the cut-off date for applying for Indian citizenship is December 31, 2014. “The new notification does not alter that deadline. It only gives an additional safeguard for these minorities, allowing them to stay in India without fear of prosecution. This order does not grant citizenship. It only shields them from legal action.”



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