Pilgrims stranded, flights disrupted

Kolkata: Dense fog condition will prevail in the next 24 hours, while the the minimum temperature is expected will dip further in the next few days, the Regional Met Office predicted today.
A senior Met official said as a result of a cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal a moisture incursion has taken place, which is hindering the minimum temperature from dipping below normal at this time of the year. Also, a result of moisture incursion dense fog has accumulated in the sky.
He also said the average minimum temperature will drop after 24 hours as the circulation is expected to move slowly towards the east and north westerly winds would blow over Gangetic West Bengal. Visibility is also expected to improve after 24 hours.
Owing to dense fog about one lakh pilgrims returning from Sagar Islands were stranded on the mela ground this morning after district authorities suspended ferry services on Kachuberia to Lot 8 and Chimaguri to Namkhana routes till 11 a.m.. The authorities also suspended bus services from mela ground to Kachuberia.
However, situation started to improve after 11 a.m. when both ferry and bus services were resumed.
Mr Ajay Ranade, SP, South 24-Parganas, said about 20,000 pilgrims were still stranded in the Sagar Island till this evening. As ferry services were delayed in the morning, these pilgrims could not be brought back to the mainland.
Meanwhile flight operations at NSC Bose Airport was brought to a complete halt between 10.50 p.m. yesterday and 8.55 a.m. today because of poor visibility caused by dense fog. All together the schedule of 40 flights were affected.
15/01/09 The Statesman

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Categories: Airports Jan 2009