Emigration clearance and passenger movement hit

Hundreds of passengers were stranded and at least eight flights delayed for hours when the computer system at the departure terminal of Nedumbassery International airport and emigration counter here collapsed early yesterday following heavy rains.

Functioning of the Emigration and check-in counters were paralysed due to which verification of tickets, allotment of seats and clearance of passengers were delayed, airport sources said.

Following the heavy rains since Thursday night, the drainage system got blocked and water seeped into the departure lounge through clogged manholes affecting the functioning of the computer system, the sources said.

The Emirates Kochi-Dubai flight, which was to have left at 04.35 am, could leave only by 6.45 am, Indian's Kochi-Mumbai-New York flight left by 05.30, an hour later than its scheduled departure. The Kuwait airways, Kochi-Kuwait flight, Sharjah-Kochi-Chennai flight, Gulf Air's Kochi-Bahrain flight, Oman Air's Kochi-Muscat flight, and Qatar Airways Kochi-Doha flight also suffered delays.

Clearance proceedings were shifted temporarily to the arrival terminal, following which passengers could leave for their destinations, the sources said.