Water cleared, Kochi airport resumes operations after 30 hours of shutdown

Kochi, Aug 7: Kochi International Airport, which was closed for traffic since Monday following waterlogging on the runway, resumed operations Tuesday evening with Air India Express (AIE) operating its Kochi-Doha-Bahrain flight.

AIE sources said one of their three flights, stationed in Thiruvananthapuram, was brought to Kochi by 1520 hrs for operating the Kochi-Doha-Bahrain flight via Kozhikode, which will be carrying 170 passengers and crew.

The airlines will operate its second flight at 1720 hrs by bringing in another flight from the state capital to operate the scheduled Kochi-Abu Dhabi service. With this all AIE services would become normal, the sources said.

Indigo Airlines will operate its Mumbai-Kochi flight this evening, airport sources said. Airport Director A K C Nair told PTI the safety team of Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) had inspected the airport and cleared it for operations following which the first flight landed at around 1520 hrs.

Parking and Taxi bays were washed and cleaned Tuesday morning and steps have been taken to ensure that such a situation does not arise, he said.

Flight operations had been hit after the runway was closed on Monday as water inundated the runway, taxi bay and parking bay. Opening the shutters of Idamalayar Dam had led to a rise in the water level of Periyar river following which there was a reverse flow through the drainages of the airport which flows into the Periyar.

This was the first time that the airport runway was closed.

CIAL Managing Director V.J. Kurien said the runway lights were opened and cleaned before airport operations resumed.

Sri Lankan Airlines Colombo-Kochi flight landed at the airport shortly after the airport was opened for traffic. Among the International flights expected tonight are Air India's Sharjah-Kochi flight, Saudi Arabian Airlines Chennai-Kochi-Riyad-Jeddah flight and Emirates Airlines two flights on Dubai-Kochi-Dubai route, airport sources said.

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A Tragic End—Mortal Remains of Entrepreneur Mumtaz Ali Found In River

News Network

October 7,2024

Mangaluru, Oct 7: In a heartbreaking turn of events, the search for Mumtaz Ali, chairman of Misbah Group of Educational Institutions, ended with the discovery of his mortal remains in the Phalguni river near Kulur. The somber discovery came after an exhaustive search, leaving a community in shock and sorrow.

He is the younger brother of former MLA Mohuiddin Bawa and former MLC B M Farookh.

The incident has taken a deeply distressing turn with the filing of an FIR against six individuals, including a woman, who are accused of pushing Ali to a tragic end.

The accused allegedly blackmailed Ali, fabricating a story about his involvement in an illicit relationship with the woman. Reports suggest that they extorted Rs 50 lakh from Ali and were unrelenting, demanding an additional Rs 50 lakh from him, casting a shadow over his final days.

The complaint, lodged by Ali’s grieving brother, accuses these individuals of driving him to despair through relentless blackmail and false accusations, ultimately leading him to take the tragic step.

In the early hours of Sunday, Ali left his home at 3 am, heading towards Suratkal, perhaps seeking some solace. A minor accident occurred when his car collided with a private bus near MCF. Despite the mishap, he offered a heartfelt apology to the bus driver and conductor—a gesture that now echoes with the pain of his unspoken struggles. After the collision, Ali made a U-turn near Panambur circle, driving back towards Kulur bridge, where his journey came to a sorrowful end.

Ali’s last moments hold an even deeper sadness, as he left behind a voice message in Byari, naming an individual who had been tormenting him mentally. Sent to his daughter and a close friend, the message revealed the unbearable burden he was carrying, hinting at his final decision to end his suffering.

This tragic loss has left the community and his loved ones grappling with unanswered questions and a profound sense of grief. As the investigation unfolds, the memory of Mumtaz Ali lingers, a reminder of the silent battles that too often go unseen.

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