Sangbad Voice 9, Odisha and Kolkata Desk: As the ominous approach of cyclone Dana looms, all aerial operations originating from Kolkata and Bhubaneswar, the esteemed capitals of West Bengal and Odisha, will be halted from the evening of October 24 until the morning of October 25.
The authorities at Kolkata airport are diligently orchestrating a series of precautionary measures to safeguard both personnel and aircraft, as well as the infrastructure of the facility.
Commencing at 6 PM on Thursday, flight operations will be suspended for a duration of 15 hours. In a bid to fortify security, all ingress and egress points of the terminal will be sealed post the departure of the final flight. Dr. Pravat Ranjan Beuria, the airport director, elucidated that aircraft stationed on the tarmac will be securely tethered.
“In addition, all airplanes will be retracted, and ladders will be bound together to mitigate the risk of them colliding with planes amidst the tempest,” Beuria articulated.
IndiGo has issued a notification stating, “Bhubaneswar Airport will be temporarily shuttered from 1700 HRS IST today until 0900 HRS IST on October 25 due to the forecast of torrential downpours and formidable winds. Should your flight be affected, you may choose to receive a refund or rebook an alternative flight by visiting https://bit.ly/31lwD2y. For updates on flight statuses for those operating as scheduled, please refer to https://bit.ly/31paVKQ. We extend our hopes for a swift restoration to normalcy.”
Adhering to established protocols, all vehicles operating in the airside vicinity will be extricated from the active zones of the airport. “Moreover, all ground handling apparatus will be meticulously chained together to prevent any movement instigated by the ferocious gusts,” the director emphasized.
All ground handling units or agencies are mandated to ensure that no materials pertinent to their operations remain exposed. This precautionary measure is imperative to avert the peril of airborne debris during the storm, which could inflict damage upon aircraft stationed on the tarmac, Beuria cautioned.