The Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery, which had remained closed for the past two weeks following flooding, resumed operations on Wednesday afternoon after extensive repair and restoration works. An IndiGo Airline flight from Ahmedabad was the first to land on the runway marking resumption of the airport’s operations.
The Nedumbassery airport, located 40 KM north of Kochi city, was closed at 4.00 AM on August 15 after floodwaters entered the airport and covered the operational area including the taxi bay, terminals and the runway. Though the closure was initially for four days, the unrelenting flood forced the authorities to extend it to August 26 and then to August 29.
All the other flight services operated on Wednesday were in the domestic sector. MCK Nair, director, Cochin International Airport limited (CIAl), the company that owns the Kochi International Airport, said, “Works are still going on and Operations of flight services will be restored in full with an few days.”
The airport had commenced full-scale operations – both domestic and international – and there would be 33 landing and 30 departure operations till midnight Wednesday, a CIAl official said while passengers bound for Gulf destinations said they were relieved that the airport operations had recommenced.
Operations were suspended after floodwaters entered the airport compound following the swelling of a canal near the airport which had overflowed with water from nearby River Periyar in which water level rose alarmingly after the dam shutters of the giant Idukki reservoir upstream were opened following incessant rains.
Apart from covering the airport’s operational area including the runway, the flood also led to the collapse of 2.5-KM portion of the 10-KM compound wall of the facility. The runway of the airport was covered with mud and slime brought in by the floodwaters. The flooding had caused losses to the tune of Rs 300 crore to the CIAl.