Day 3: Trains late, flights grounded

All the flights from the city remained grounded for the third consecutive day. Though the weather improved by the afternoon and visibility increased to 1200 metres, flights could not be resumed as cancellations had been announced in advance.

All the flights from the city remained grounded for the third consecutive day. Though the weather improved by the afternoon and visibility increased to 1200 metres, flights could not be resumed as cancellations had been announced in advance.

HT Image

Airport authorities hoped that flights would get regularised within a couple of days as the fog seemed to clear up. Talking to HT, airport director H S Toor said, "It is sad that we have the equipment to operate flights in fog but don't have the required support. We are dependent on the weather to clear up so that flights can be resumed. The inconvenience caused to passengers is deeply regretted".

The airlines complained that they were facing loses due to cancellations. "This is not the way to function. The Instrument Landing System (ILS) is in place, but it cannot be used. The passengers are a harassed lot and we can't do anything about it. The authorities need to take up this issue on a priority basis and rectify things," said a senior official of one of the airlines operating from the city.