India-Pakistan tensions disrupt air travel: Airport closures
NEW DELHI — May 2, 2024 — Flights have been canceled across India due to escalating military tensions with Pakistan, leading to airport closures in the north and west. The situation has caused major disruptions for travelers, with airlines forced to ground flights. The closure of some airports near the border is due to the rising tensions following recent events. For more information, read on.
India-Pakistan tensions Disrupt Air Travel: Airport Closures and flight Cancellations
Airports Grounded Amid Escalating Tensions
Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, Indian airlines have grounded flights at more than two dozen airports across the northern and western regions of the country. Major domestic carriers issued travel advisories, informing passengers of suspended operations until Saturday. The widespread cancellations have caused critically important disruption for travelers.
Affected Airports and Official Response
Affected airports include Amritsar in Punjab and Srinagar in india-controlled Kashmir, both bordering Pakistan.India’s Civil Aviation Ministry has yet to release an official statement regarding the airport closures. Ministry spokeswoman Beena Yadav declined to comment on the situation Thursday.
Flight Cancellations and Diversions
IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline, canceled 165 flights on wednesday. Air India and Air India Express also reported a similar number of cancellations. The sudden closure of Amritsar airport, located near the Pakistani city of Lahore, forced air India to divert two international flights bound for Amritsar to New Delhi.
background: Rising Tensions
India and Pakistan are teetering on the edge of a fresh military crisis after New Delhi launched missile strikes inside Pakistani territory on Wednesday,targeting what it called terror training camps to avenge April’s massacre of 26 indian tourists in India-controlled Kashmir.
India blames Pakistan for backing the gunmen, an accusation that Islamabad denies. Soon after the killings, the two countries swiftly moved to close their respective airspace in April, and India has shut some of its airports.
Passenger experiences
The cancellation of flights has resulted in woes for passengers. Rahul, a 32-year-old indian businessman, had a flight from Dubai to Chandigarh on Wednesday, which was canceled after closure of the Indian airport. The airline offered him a rescheduled flight to Delhi and then a bus ride to Chandigarh.
Despite the inconvenience,Rahul remained understanding: Its a security situation. I understand.
military Claims and Counterclaims
On Thursday, Pakistan claimed it had killed 40-50 soldiers
by shelling Indian military installations along the Line of Control, the de facto border in Kashmir, in retaliation for Wednesday’s pre-dawn airstrikes by India. At least 16 civilians and an Indian soldier were killed in heavy shelling in India’s Poonch district, Indian police said.
Pakistan said it downed 25 Indian kamikaze drones, while India said it shot down 15 missiles. Also on Thursday, French officials said at least one Indian-owned Rafale fighter jet was shot down during Wednesday’s “Operation Sindoor”.
Did You Know?
The Line of Control (LoC) is a military control line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is indeed not a legally recognized international boundary, but serves as the de facto border.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are flights being canceled in India? Due to escalating tensions with Pakistan, leading to airport closures.
- Which airports are affected? Airports in northern and western India, including Amritsar and Srinagar.
- When will the flight operations resume? Suspended operations are expected to continue until Saturday.
Pro Tip
If yoru flight is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, contact your airline promptly to explore options such as rescheduling, refunds, or choice transportation. Keep all dialog records for future reference.
