The ongoing chaos at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport shows no signs of easing. Passengers continue to endure severe disruptions, with a significant number grappling with the fallout from a wave of flight cancellations and rescheduling. The most pressing issue for many is a lag of more than four days in luggage transfers, leaving travelers without their belongings long after they have reached their destinations.
Personal Ordeals Highlight Systemic Failure
Several harrowing accounts from passengers paint a picture of systemic failure and poor communication. Anindita Banerjee, 30, who flew in from Texas with her husband Arjit Chakrabarti, shared her frustrating experience. Their IndiGo flight to Kolkata was cancelled, forcing them onto separate routes. She traveled via Itanagar while her husband was routed via Guwahati.
While Anindita reached Kolkata late on Thursday, her husband's flight was cancelled after check-in. To compound their misery, both of their luggage pieces are missing. "I did not receive my luggage. They confirmed that no luggage has arrived from Delhi since December 4, and none will come tomorrow or the day after, as all flights to and from Delhi are cancelled," Banerjee stated. She was made to wait from 1 pm to 7 pm only to receive this disheartening news.
Her troubles were amplified by a blame game between airlines. As she booked through Turkish Airlines, IndiGo reportedly told her she was not their direct customer. Turkish Airlines, on the other hand, claimed they delivered the luggage to Delhi and were no longer responsible.
Critical Documents Lost, Business Trips Derailed
The impact of the luggage crisis extends beyond mere inconvenience, affecting crucial work and travel plans. Aditi Ganguly, a resident of Khardaha, returned to Kolkata from Bengaluru after a grueling 14-hour flight delay. Her relief was short-lived as she found her luggage missing at the conveyor belt.
The lost bag contained her passport, visa, and vital documents for a business trip to Dubai scheduled for Sunday. "I missed my Dubai presentation," she lamented. IndiGo staff took a photo of her baggage tag on Sunday and promised to send the bag home once found, but the damage to her professional commitments was already done.
Widespread Passenger Anguish
The problem is widespread, affecting passengers from various routes. Haji Akhtar Ali Khan, 65, from Maheshtala, has been dealing with a similar ordeal since returning from Pune on Tuesday, with two checked-in bags missing.
In another case, Abhimanyu Singh of Dum Dum returned from Hyderabad on Thursday to find his trolley bag missing. He received a call from IndiGo on Saturday evening instructing him to collect it. "I arrived at the airport on Sunday, only to be told my bag had been handed to a vendor for home delivery," he explained, highlighting the disjointed recovery process.
Airlines Cite Logistical Challenges
Airport authorities and IndiGo staff have attributed the crisis to the sheer volume of disrupted flights and subsequent logistical challenges. The cascading effect of cancellations, particularly on the Delhi route, has overwhelmed baggage handling systems, creating a massive backlog.
While the airlines point to operational difficulties, for the stranded passengers, the explanation offers little solace as they navigate the anxiety and practical problems caused by missing essential belongings, sometimes for days on end.
