Two AI flights to D’sala cancelled

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 27

Two Air India flights to Kangra were cancelled due to the escalating tension between India and Pakistan. The Gaggal airport in Kangra receives three flights a day. SpiceJet arrives at 8 am and two Air India flights in the afternoon.

Both afternoon flights were cancelled. Officials said the flights were suspended from Delhi. An international conference on water was scheduled in the Baijnath area of Kangra district, but delegates from foreign countries didn’t arrive for the same as the flights had been cancelled. The conference was being hosted by Tibetan guru Tai Situpa.

Kishore Kumar, director, airport, said flights were not operating from Delhi. “Only one flight operated in the morning. But all flights were cancelled after that from Delhi,” he said. Due to the cancellation of flights, many tourists are stranded in Dharamsala. Kangra district shares border with Pathankot in Punjab, which is why security has been stepped up at the entry points. Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial said security at prominent and religious places had been tightened.

The situation has also forced the cancellation of many events taking place in the region. Tour operators in the region are worried. Foreign tourists are likely to cancel their visit to the area. “We just hope that the situation does not escalate,” they said.