Cyclone Sitrang: Many flights, trains cancelled in northeast

GUWAHATI: Air connectivity in the northeast has been severely affected due to the impact of Cyclone Sitrang, with at least 10 scheduled flights cancelled since Monday morning. The Railways are also on high alert to tackle any eventuality.


Three flights connecting Agartala with Kolkata and two flights connecting Agartala with Shillong and Aizawl, respectively, were cancelled amid poor visibility, adverse climatic conditions and other operational reasons.

Three flights from Imphal to Shillong, Delhi and Agartala were also cancelled, besides two other flights connecting Kolkata- Imphal- Dibrugarh and Dibrugarh-Imphal-Kolkata.

Out of the 10 flights cancelled, the majority were IndiGo-operated ones. Several other flights from Lengpui Airport, managed by the state government, also remained cancelled on Monday.

A source in the Airports Authority of India (AAI) told TOI that the situation is being constantly monitored. The source said on Monday afternoon at 3pm that the next 6-12 hours is going to be critical for the airlines

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said two intra-state trains - the Agartala-Sabroom-Agartala and the Agartala-Dharmanagar-Agartala have been cancelled in view of the weather alert. NFR chief public relations officer Sabyasachi De said patrolling has been increased in Dima Hasao, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts of Assam.

"We are on high alert in the northeast. The four districts where vigilance has been stepped up are important connecting rail links to the northeastern states. Rain has not yet caused any flooding or landslides. However, as the night goes by we will know more," De said on Monday evening.

He said two trains chugging to the northeast from south India were running behind schedue in the Eastern Railway zone.