Imphal bound flight cancelled; AI incurs loss of Rs 1.8 lakh to accommodate stranded passengers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2014: Air India's flight number AI 890 which was supposed to land at Imphal airport this afternoon was cancelled subsequent upon which Air India has agreed to pay Rs 1.80 lakh for accommodation of the stranded passengers.

The flight which originated from Delhi landed at Guwahati.

There the aircraft was checked by engineers.

As some technical defects were detected, the Imphal leg of the same flight was cancelled.

As a result, a large number of passengers heading from Imphal to Delhi and Guwahati were left stranded.

At Imphal, around 120 passengers were awaiting arrival of the same flight with boarding passes in their hands.

As the flight did not arrive till 3.40 pm which was the departure schedule, the passengers felt that the flight was delayed.

It was two hours later than the departure schedule that Air India officials announced that the same flight has been cancelled.

Stranded passengers at Tulihal airport after the AI flight bound for Imphal was cancelled

As many of the passengers came from far off places of the State, they raised an uproar over the authority's failure to make the announcement (of flight cancellation) in time.

They urged the Manager to arrange accommodation for the passengers if the flight was cancelled.

To this, the Manager replied that he was not authorised to make accommodation arrangements.

Then the passengers pointed out what was written on his table.

A writing on the Manager's table said that fooding and lodging would be arranged for passengers in the event of flight cancellation.

After three hours of argument, the Manager gave a written assurance to refund Rs 1500 each to all the passengers.

Some of the passengers maintained that the airport authority was taking the passengers for a ride when they announced about the flight cancellation after a gap of two hours.

They also demanded replacement of the Manager posted at Imphal airport.

One passenger from Senapati went back after hiring a diesel auto-rickshaw at Rs 1000 .

It is reported that the authorities have arranged an alternative flight at 2.30 pm tomorrow (June 23) .

The reimbursement of Rs 1500 as assured by the Manager would be given to each passenger at the time of check-in tomorrow.

Air India has also reportedly made accommodation arrangements for the passengers headed for Imphal at Guwahati.