SCR runs four special trains to ease Hyderabad IndiGo chaos

In response to the massive disruption caused by IndiGo flight cancellations in Hyderabad, the South Central Railway (SCR) announced the running of special trains to ease the passenger rush. Passengers faced severe difficulties at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after IndiGo cancelled a large number of flights on Saturday. Problems included long queues, lack of information, and a lack of clarity regarding the flight cancellations.

Special Trains to Chennai, Mumbai, and Shalimar

In light of the situation, the SCR released a statement announcing that four special trains would be operated on the routes to Chennai, Mumbai, and Shalimar (Kolkata) for passengers stranded due to the extra rush. The special trains are scheduled to depart starting from Saturday itself, and passengers are advised to utilise them.

144 Flights Cancelled

According to information from airport sources, approximately 74 IndiGo outbound flights from Hyderabad alone, and an estimated 70 incoming flights, were expected to be cancelled on Saturday. Due to this unexpected decision, passengers suddenly rushed to the IndiGo counters seeking clarification. A former Ministry of Defence spokesperson, Tarun Singha, posted on 'X' that despite completing the DigiYatra process and receiving a message that the flight timing was advanced, the cancellation was only revealed upon reaching the airport, terming the entire affair as "completely disorganised."

Another netizen commented, "Staying silent won't work. They won't respond unless you shout. They behaved negligently without giving any information for an hour. Finally, IndiGo staff came only after a passenger shouted into the mic." Passenger outrage against IndiGo, which had already cancelled over a thousand flights across the country on Friday, intensified further. Responding to these developments, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers offered an apology in a video message. He stated that the number of cancellations on Saturday would be less than a thousand, though not in the thousands.

We will ensure refunds for passengers: Union Minister Pemmasani

During the period when passengers were facing difficulties due to IndiGo flight cancellations and delays, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Rammohan Naidu, took a firm stand on behalf of the passengers. He stated on 'X' that a special control room was set up in the Ministry to monitor the situation continuously. He initiated an investigation into the causes of these disruptions and directed airports and airlines to coordinate and prioritise children, mothers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Furthermore, he assured that steps were taken to ensure refunds and fee waivers for all affected passengers. He noted that the Minister took decisive action to intervene in a timely manner and alleviate the inconvenience caused to the passengers.