Karnataka wants limited flights from states with high prevalence of coronavirus cases

The Karnataka government on Thursday said it has asked for restrictions on the number of flights from five states, namely Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. There is no ban on flights from these states, the government clarified.

In a press release late on Thursday evening, the government said, “The state government has requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to reduce the number of flights, emanating from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to Karnataka, in view of the high number of Covid-19 cases prevalent there.”

The minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, J C Madhuswamy, has said Karnataka has not sought any ban on flights. “Karnataka has appealed to the Civil Aviation Ministry to take steps to lessen the air traffic to the State, with the intention that there may not be adequate quarantine facilities, if there is a huge turn-out in a short span of time,” the release said.

The minister also said restrictions have been imposed on people coming by road from the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to ensure adequate quarantine facilities.