PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 23: Ranchi witnessed a day of acute travel disruption as several key flights operating from Birsa Munda Airport were abruptly cancelled, leaving passengers grappling with uncertainty and inconvenience.
Flight services were affected as dense fog significantly reduced visibility.
Also Read- Chinese visa scam: Court directs framing of charges against Karti Chidambaram, others
Aviation sources said the sudden suspension of services affected major routes connecting Ranchi with Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Delhi.
According to an official advisory issued by the airport authorities, a total of five flights were grounded due to operational reasons.
Among the cancelled services were three Kolkata–Ranchi–Kolkata (CCU–IXR–CCU) flights operated by IndiGo, bearing flight numbers 6E 7561/7562, 6E 7089/7014, and 6E 7674/7235.
In addition, Air India Express cancelled two of its scheduled services—one on the Bengaluru–Ranchi–Bengaluru (BLR–IXR–BLR) sector (Flight IX 1239/1248) and another on the Delhi–Ranchi–Delhi (DEL–IXR–DEL) route (Flight IX 1046/1047).
The unexpected cancellations caused considerable distress among travellers, many of whom had arrived at the airport early in the morning only to find their journeys indefinitely delayed.
Airport terminals saw passengers waiting anxiously, seeking clarity on re-bookings and refunds.
Also Read- Jharkhand Health Minister to attend OPD patients at Dhanbad Sadar Hospital
In response, the airport administration urged passengers to remain in direct contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates.
Travellers have also been strongly advised to verify their flight status prior to commencing their journey, in order to avoid unnecessary hardship amid ongoing operational adjustments.
Thus, it once again underscores the ripple effect that sudden flight disruptions can have on air travel, particularly for passengers reliant on crucial intercity connections.
