Kolkata airport transit hub for those fleeing violence-hit Manipur

KOLKATA: Kolkata airport has become the biggest transit hub for people flying out of the troubled state of Manipur. Thousands of residents from different states like Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Mizoram are coming to the airport in groups in special and scheduled flights and flying to their own hometowns.
While a large number of students and professionals from Mizoram who have reached the city over the last two days were put up at Mizoram House at New Town and Salt Lake, a separate arrangement has been made by the state government at Salt Lake stadium's youth hostel for transit stay of residents from other states.
Hundreds of transit passengers were also waiting at the terminal. "Although the state has made separate arrangements, many transit passengers are preferring to stay back at the airport for few hours before taking the flights back home. We have provided a separate seating arrangement near Gate No. 3C for them and are providing them with refreshments. The respective state governments are taking care of their flights back home and food," said a senior airport official.
TOI talked to a number of passengers. "It was scary back there in Manipur," said Zira Swang, a medical student in Manipur and a resident of Mizoram.
Flyers thank govt, airport for help
Zira Swang, a medical student in Manipur and a resident of Mizoram, and 20 of his college mates were put up at Mizoram House in New Town on Sunday night before Mizoram government arranged for their flight home on Monday.
"In Manipur, we were running low on food and water, and our families were worried for our safety. We were hearing news of violence and it was difficult to separate fact from rumour. We are glad to be safe and just want to go home," said Swang.
Similar was the reaction of a Mizo homemaker who turned up at Kolkata airport with her two kids. "My husband works in Kolkata while I used to work in Manipur. But the situation is not conducive to staying there at present," she said.
Several passengers took to Twitter to express gratitude to their respective states for the rescue efforts.
"We just arrived at Kolkata airport and are now out of danger with the help of our honorable chief minister Ashoke Gehlot. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done to keep us students safe," tweeted Vinay Agarwal, an IIT Manipur student from Rajasthan, who posted a photograph of him with 13 others at Kolkata airport.
The Andhra Pradesh government also co-ordinated with officials of the ministry of civil aviation to arrange two additional flights - to Hyderabad and Kolkata - to rescue students stranded in Manipur. A total of 157 students were flown out of Manipur on Monday. Those who reached Kolkata were flown to Hyderabad in an evening flight.
"We are offering free transit accommodation to all those who are coming from Manipur and are being taken to other states via Kolkata. It is our duty to help them in this crisis," said chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The flyers, in turn, responded and residents of other states left thank you notes on Twitter and Facebook for the state and Kolkata airport for their kind gesture.