Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) descended into scenes of distress and anger over the weekend as widespread flight cancellations by budget carrier IndiGo left hundreds of travellers stranded. The operational disruptions, which began on December 2, transformed both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 into hubs of frustration, with passengers facing severe shortages of basic necessities.
Passenger Outcry Over Basic Amenities
Amid the growing crowds, a critical shortage of essential items came to light. A young woman, having exhausted her supply of sanitary napkins, found the airport pharmacy completely out of stock. Her requests for assistance from airport and airline staff went unanswered.
The situation escalated when her father, visibly angered, confronted officials. In a video that circulated widely, he was heard protesting loudly, "Sister, my daughter needs a sanitary pad," highlighting the airline and airport's failure to provide for passengers' fundamental needs during the extended wait.
Stranded Travellers Consider Gruelling Alternatives
The uncertainty forced many to consider exhausting overland journeys. Priyansh Vijayvargiya, a distance MBA student from Indore, saw his IndiGo flight cancelled on both December 3 and 4. With no communication from the airline about his rescheduled flight for Saturday and crucial exams on December 8, he is now contemplating a desperate alternative: a long bus journey to Hyderabad, followed by another bus to Indore.
Other passengers echoed tales of hardship. Karan Bora, travelling to Madhya Pradesh, reported going without food for seven hours as every restaurant at the airport had run out. "The crowds are so big that even water kiosks are empty," he stated.
Medical Emergencies and Worsening Conditions
The crisis posed significant risks for passengers with medical conditions. Revathi Narayan, a 67-year-old diabetic traveller, had been waiting since Thursday night. After checking in her luggage, she could not retrieve it, leaving her without access to her essential medicines, which she requires every four hours.
The collective frustration boiled over, with large groups of stranded passengers chanting "Down Down, IndiGo" in protest against the multiple cancellations and the apparent lack of a coherent response or support system from the airline to manage the fallout.
The incident at KIA underscores a severe breakdown in passenger care protocols during operational crises, raising serious questions about the preparedness of airlines and airport authorities to handle large-scale disruptions with empathy and efficiency.
