GUWAHATI, Dec 21 - Passengers on board the GoAir G8-851 flight from Guwahati to Delhi were taken for a ride on Friday after the flight was diverted to Varanasi apparently due to visibility issues.
The passengers, reportedly left in the lurch for close to 12 hours, complained about not getting basic services including food, water and space for rest. This, they alleged, grossly violated DGCA guidelines.
�The flight which took off around 4.15 pm from Guwahati yesterday, had reached Bagdogra at 5.15 pm and was subsequently diverted to Varanasi airport where it landed around 9 pm. From then onwards the nightmare started,� informed Nitu Pandey who was travelling with her kid. Nitu, wife of an Army officer based in Assam, alleged that they were made to wait inside the aircraft for almost three hours before being asked to get down.
Children started crying and there was confusion all around. The aircraft staff were not aware of anything, or were pretending so. The passengers were not provided dinner or refreshments, Nitu said. �We were left stranded. There could be some issues which we understand, but that does not mean that you would deprive passengers of food and other basic amenities,� she rued.
Around midnight, the passengers were told to alight from the aircraft. Despite their attempts to get in touch with ground staff to enquire how to go about it, there was none to be found. �As per DGCA norms, we asked for accommodation but there was no clarity on that front as well. The driver and the person accompanying us were also not aware of the hotel they were taking us to. When we demanded the name of the hotel, they refused to tell us. Since there were other ladies and children, we did not find it safe to travel without any security and opted to stay back at the airport,� said Nitu, who also lodged a complaint with the airport authority.
�For over 12 hours we were not served any food or water, which is not done. We saw other passengers who were on a different flight going through the same ordeal,� she added.
Sources informed that the Varanasi civic and police administration had to finally intervene to ensure that the passengers were allowed to board a flight to New Delhi, which reached the destination in the evening.
