New Delhi:

Telugu actor Lakshmi Manchu on Monday accused the staff of IndiGo Airlines of harassment after her bag was pulled aside at the Goa airport, prompting the air carrier to clarify that the baggage was detained by airport security due to strict regulations on carrying prohibited items in check-in luggage.

In a series of posts on X, the “Yakshini” actor said her bag was taken by the security personnel for a check and she wasn’t allowed to open it on her own.

“My bag pulled aside and @IndiGo6E and they won’t let me open my bag. They insist to do it or else my bag will be left in Goa, someone help!!! Flt 6e585.. this is ridiculous, and the staff is being extremely rude,” she wrote, tagging the airline’s official X handle.

“This is harassment @IndiGo6E after all that they did not even put a security tag in front of my eyes. In spite of insisting that they would do so if anything is missing, I doubt Indigo will take any responsibility. How is this even possible to run an airline like this…,” she said in another post.

I rest my case @IndiGo6E pic.twitter.com/1AXPbumRm7

— Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna (@LakshmiManchu) January 27, 2025

According to Manchu, the staff pulled people aside for carrying “sleep apnea machine, spoon fork and knife cutlery” on flight.

“One of the girl had to leave her luggage cos they couldn’t go thru her bag on time!!!!!! Ok I’m done! @IndiGo6E loves making you feel violated (sic)” she added.

IndiGo Airlines was prompt in responding to the actor’s posts.

“Ma’am, we understand the inconvenience you experienced this morning. As per our records, your checked-in bag was detained by the airport security, deployed by the airport operator, due to strict regulations on carrying prohibited items in check-in luggage. (1/2) “We appreciate your cooperation with our team and the security personnel in resolving the matter, ensuring the bag could be cleared for check-in. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a pleasant flight. Team IndiGo (2/2),” the air carrier said in its response.

Hours later, Manchu shared a video and picture of her suitcase without the tag near the baggage carousel.

“I rest my case @IndiGo6E,” she wrote, accompanied by broken heart emoticons, without further explanation.

The airline said while the airport team had securely tagged her bag, the tag was removed by airport security personnel when the bag was detained “due to the carriage of a restricted item”.

“Please note that there is a mandated security process, and this process is within the purview of the security authorities and not under the control and supervision of IndiGo. (2/3) “We truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Should you require any further assistance, please feel free to reach out to us via DM. We hope you had a pleasant flight and look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon. Team IndiGo,”  said the airline.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Rory Callum Sykes, a former child star from Australia has become the latest casualty of Los Angeles wildfires after the blaze ripped through his family’s Malibu property, according to a social media post by his mother, Shelly Sykes. The 32-year-old who rose to fame when he appeared on the 1998 British TV series Kiddy Kapers and later became a motivational speaker on living with disabilities, reportedly died of carbon monoxide despite Ms Sykes’ best attempts to save her son.

“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heartbroken,” Ms Sykes, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“He was a British-born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine and his grandma’s birthday 29 July 92.”

According to Ms Skyes, her son, who was born with cerebral palsy, was staying in a cottage on the family’s 17-acre Mount Malibu TV Studio estate. As Ms Skyes tried to use water to douse the fire, she discovered it had been turned off.

“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off. Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day,” wrote Ms Sykes.

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken. British born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandmas birthday 29 July 92, Rory Callum… pic.twitter.com/X77xyk83gx

— Shelley Sykes (@shelleysykes) January 9, 2025

She rushed off to get help from the local fire department but returned to find the cottage had been destroyed. “He [Rory] said, ‘mom leave me’ and no mom can leave their kid. And I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him,” Ms Sykes told Australia’s 10 News First.

Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the government’s “thoughts are with the family of Rory Sykes at this tragic time”. “We continue to engage with Los Angeles authorities, who are working to confirm his death. Dfat is in close contact with his family and is providing consular assistance to them.”

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Los Angeles wildfires

Since the wildfires started, they have ripped through over 30,000 acres of Los Angeles County in just a few days, killing 10 people in the process. The LA wildfires are poised to become one of the costliest natural disasters in US history, with estimated losses already surpassing $135 billion.

The total losses could reach as high as $150 billion, making it one of the most expensive wildfires the country has ever seen, BBC has reported.

Though wildfires occur naturally, scientists claim that human-caused climate change is altering weather and changing the dynamics of the blazes. Two wet years in Southern California have given way to a very dry one, leaving ample fuel dry and primed to burn.