Tech flights put airport back in action

Technical flights have started from rain-hit Chennai airport where operations were suspended on Wednesday following flooding but it will take a few days to resume commercial flights, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma said on Saturday. “We started technical flights from Chennai airport. But we are unable to resume commercial flights as the basement of the airport is still waterlogged and power supply of the terminal building has not been restored completely. It might take at least 2-3 days to clear the airport for operations,” the Minister of State for Civil Aviation said. He said four commercial flights were operated from INS Rajali Naval base. Two flights of Indigo and one each of Spicejet and Trujet evacuated 310 people from there.

Meanwhile, three stranded Air India aircraft flew back to Delhi from Chennai airport. A total 34 aircraft of various airlines were stranded at the airport due to the flooding caused by torrential rains. Chennai airport had suspended flights till Sunday in the wake of floods. Some media reports said that several snakes have crept into the stranded aircraft and the officials were right now removing them. Once the job is over the flights will resume their journey, the reports said. On an average, Chennai airport handles 320 landings and departures. As many as 20 international airlines operates from Chennai airport apart from most of the domestic carriers.

Free bus ride: The state has announced that bus travel will be free till Dec 8. Buses to Chennai and from Madurai beside others are slowly being resumed. “Five buses have arrived from Chennai and 30 special buses would start operating today,” transport officials said, adding that most buses from southern districts are being diverted to bring back people.