Kolkata: For half an hour on Wednesday evening, the Indian airspace was left vulnerable as the Air Force Military Liaison Unit (MLU) at Kolkata airport that monitors aircraft movement was paralyzed by the nor-wester. The 126-kmph squall blew away the corrugated roof of the MLU housed in the annexe of the air traffic control tower, forcing the Air Force personnel to shut down at 7.15 in the evening. The skies remained unmanned till 7.45pm.
As the storm gained intensity on Wednesday evening, the roof that protects the MLU office began to be tossed up and down. At 7.15pm, when the squall's intensity touched 126 kmph, the clamps that kept the sheets fixed to the beams snapped like twigs. Within moments, all hell broke loose in the usually quiet office space. With sheets of blinding rain pouring in, the Air Force personnel on duty scampered to first switch off electricity to the surveillance equipment and then carry them to safety.
19/04/13 Times of India
