Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Swift action by the office of Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has provided relief to 120 students from Pune who were stranded in Delhi traffic and risked missing their flight home.
The students and 20 others were on an educational tour to Delhi and Jalandhar organised by Punekars Education Initiative. The group was scheduled to return on an Indigo Airlines flight departing from Delhi at 8.20 PM on October 17. To be on time to show up at the airport, they began their early morning journey from Jalandhar by bus. However, heavy traffic nearly 25 kilometres from Delhi Airport brought their buses to a standstill, making it doubtful for them to reach the boarding gate on time.
With no other options, the organising group reached out to Mohol’s Pune office for help. “I called the minister’s office at 6:30 p.m. and explained our situation. Within minutes, they connected us with officials in Delhi and the airline,” said Leena Mhasavde, one of the organisers.
Indigo Airlines staff responded promptly, gathering the group’s details and tracking their buses. Despite the delay, some passengers were accommodated on a 9.15 pm flight, while others were booked on a later flight at 11.30 PM.
“The airline also assisted with security checks and allowed us to bring food packets for the children into the airport,” Mhasavde added. Finally, the students arrived in Pune safely, albeit a little late.
“This incident has reinforced my faith in the system,” said Mhasavde, expressing her gratitude.
