Parts of airport waterlogged but flights stick to schedule
Times of India | 4 August 2024
Kolkata: Overnight showers led to waterlogging in both the approach road to the Kolkata airport terminal as well as a couple of bays in the operational area as attempts to pump water into the canal outside drew a blank as water flowed back into the airport compound. However, it did not hamper operations as the runway as well as taxiways and 70 parking bays were free of water.
“The airport experienced some waterlogging due to the heavy rainfall. But flight operations were unaffected. We have not had any flight cancellation or significant delays owing to the waterlogging,” Kolkata airport diretor Pravat Ranjan Beuria told TOI.
Videos of inundated sections of the airport’s operational area had earlier gone viral and led to fears among flyers that multiple flights could be affected. In the video, a parked Air India aircraft was seen with its wheels submerged in water as were a couple of IndiGo ATRs. A passenger coach near one of the aircraft suggested that the aircraft had either landed or was set to depart.
The airport director said drainage canals to flush out water from the airport grounds had filled up due to the prolonged showers. “We have deployed additional heavy duty pumps. Of the 72 parking bays, 70 are clear. Only two are inundated. We expect to clear them as well once water level in the localities adjoining the airport recedes,” said Beuria.
There were also issues on the city side with metro work leading to blockage in the drainage lines near the flyover that led to inundation in the approach road to the terminal. Again, pumps were deployed to clear the water so that cars could ply. “We have asked metro to ensure that passenger access to the airport is not hindered,” the airport director said.
The meteorological office at the airport in Dum Dum recorded 100 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am on Friday and 8.30 am on Saturday.