A sudden blaze in dry grass sent smoke billowing across the operational area of Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) on Saturday afternoon, triggering a brief period of alarm.
Swift Response by Airport Fire Team
The airport's in-house fire and rescue services sprang into action immediately. Using their apparatus, they managed to fully extinguish the flames in a swift 30-minute operation. Crucially, officials confirmed that the point where the fire originated was situated far from the aircraft parking bays. No aircraft was parked in the bays at the time of the incident, ensuring no immediate risk to aviation assets.
Operations Unaffected, Cause Under Probe
BPIA director Prasanna Pradhan addressed the situation, stating that the fire was confined to a small area and was contained quickly. "It was a fire in the dry grass and spread to a small area nearby, but we contained it very quickly. The cause of the fire is being ascertained. There were no flames, only smoke. All operations went smoothly," Pradhan said. The arrival and departure lounges remained completely unaffected by the event.
Passengers Unaware, Visible Smoke
Interestingly, while the smoke column was visible from a distance, passengers inside the terminal buildings were largely unaware of the incident unfolding outside. Airport sources indicated that those present in the lounges did not even know about the fire, highlighting that normal airport functions continued without interruption. The incident underscores the effectiveness of the airport's emergency protocols in handling such unforeseen events without impacting passenger services or flight schedules.
