Mock drill organised to assess fog preparedness at Amritsar airport

A comprehensive fog preparedness mock drill was conducted at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, on Saturday to assess the airport’s readiness for operations during foggy and low-visibility conditions, expected in the coming weeks.

The drill focused on reviewing terminal facilities, passenger movement, city-side traffic management and overall coordination among stakeholders to ensure passenger comfort and safety during adverse weather conditions. Airport authorities tested systems and arrangements that usually come under maximum pressure during prolonged foggy weather.

During the exercise, special attention was paid to the availability of adequate seating inside the terminal, food and beverage supplies, cleanliness, and smooth passenger movement amid increased congestion.

Arrangements at arrival and departure ramps were also reviewed to assess preparedness for possible traffic snarls during flight delays or diversions.

All key stakeholders — including the Airports Authority of India (AAI), CISF, airlines, ground handling agencies, and food and beverage concessionaires — actively participated in the drill. Coordination mechanisms, real-time communication, quick response protocols and dissemination of timely and accurate

information to passengers were tested under simulated real-life conditions.

According to the airport management, the mock drill helped validate the improvements made so far and highlighted a few areas that require immediate strengthening. The airport administration said ensuring correct information, essential passenger facilities and a safe environment during fog-induced delays or disruptions remained its priority.

The preparedness

exercise was conducted after flight operations at the airport returned to normal, following recent disruptions faced by IndiGo.