Fire triggers panic at airport

Kolkata: The jinx with baggage conveyor belts continues at Kolkata airport. On Wednesday, smoke from a short-circuit fire triggered panic in the domestic terminal. Although the fire was put out quickly, several flights were delayed as airlines had to manually check in passengers after electricity lines were shut down as a precaution.
The smoke was spotted around 6.45pm by a loader behind Air India check-in Counter No 9. He raised an alarm that not only alerted airport staff but alarmed passengers as well. A few passengers in the check-in queues panicked and tried to rush out, sparking fears of a mini-stampede during rush hour.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) staff rushed in with portable fire extinguishers. The primary electricity line that supplies power to operational systems was shut down. The fire was located in a room that houses conveyer belt motors. Over the past few days, electricians had been at work in the very room to install new conveyer belts for a state-of-the-art automated baggage X-ray system.
The flames were put out in 10 minutes. But the smoke lingered in the building for nearly an hour.
10/06/10 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2010, Safety Jun 2010