Another security drill at airport as passengers cancel Mumbai tickets

Following the ongoing terror strike in Mumbai, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has been put on high alert.

Following the ongoing terror strike in Mumbai, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has been put on high alert. The Delhi Police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have increased deployment. “We held meetings with security agencies at the airport. Quick-reaction teams have been activated,” said a senior CISF official.

Many passengers did not take flights to Mumbai, disrupting flight schedules, as airlines had to cancel or reschedule flights. Kingfisher Airlines clubbed its flights — Delhi-Mumbai IT 306 and IT 308 on the same route.

Passengers who landed in Delhi were scared, while those who had gone to Mumbai decided to cancel engagements and returned by the morning flight.

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“I was having dinner at a Mumbai hotel when I heard the news; I had four meetings scheduled, but cancelled them and took the first flight to Delhi this morning,” said Naresh Jain, a Delhi businessman, who reached Mumbai at 7.45 pm on Wednesday.

Sholay’s ‘Samba’ Mac Mohan, who landed in Delhi this afternoon for a stage show, said Mumbai would stay resilient as ever. “Mumbai is used to dealing with such situations, and I’m sure we will emerge stronger,” he said.

Sucheta Kaushik (28), who arrived with her four-month-old-son in a SpiceJet flight, said, “My family was very tense. The roads in Mumbai are deserted. I am happy to be back with my family; I feel safe.”

Munish Kapoor, in Delhi with family to attend a wedding, said they had an early morning flight, but “we cancelled that and booked a flight for noon with the same airlines. We were very scared to leave in the morning; most roads in Mumbai were deserted.”

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Airlines have asked passengers to report well ahead of departure. “Passengers are advised to carry identification documents,” said a Jet Airways official.

For Kolkata, the IMD has forecast mostly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain or thundershowers on most days through Panchami.

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