10 flights cancelled at Kolkata airport amid West Asia conflict
Kolkata (PTI): At least 10 international flights were cancelled at the airport here on Tuesday due to the escalating conflict in West Asia, officials said.
Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia cancelled their flights connecting Kolkata with West Asia destinations, they said.
“Today at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, a total of five departures and five arrivals have been cancelled,” an airport official said.
ALSO READ: Middle East conflict: 80 international flights cancelled at Delhi airport on Tuesday
According to the details shared by the airport authorities, Emirates cancelled two arrival flights and two departure ones on the Dubai route, while Qatar Airways suspended one arrival flight and a departure one to Doha.
Etihad Airways called off one arrival flight and a departure one to Abu Dhabi, and Air Arabia cancelled two flights - one arrival and one departure- on the Abu Dhabi sector.
These cancellations came after at least 20 international flights were suspended at the Kolkata airport on Monday.
The disruptions were reported as airlines continued to adjust schedules due to the military conflict between Iran and the US-Israel, with some airports and air routes affected by the ongoing war, another official said.
Multiple inbound and outbound flights between Kolkata and destinations such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were cancelled at short notice, leaving several passengers stranded at the airport, he said.
Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines for updated flight schedules before travelling to the airport, he said.
At the national level, hundreds of international services have been cancelled, particularly those connecting through major West Asia transit hubs.
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Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's son Nishant to enter politics, says JD(U) leader
Patna (PTI): The entry of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, into politics has been finalised, and the decision will soon be announced formally by the JD(U), state minister Sharwan Kumar said on Tuesday.
The senior JD(U) leader said Nishant will be given a "bigger responsibility" in the party.
"Now, it's clear, and it has been finalised that Nishant Kumar will join active politics. The party will make a formal announcement in a day or two. Party workers have been demanding Nishant's entry into politics for several years. Now party workers and supporters are upbeat with the decision ahead of Holi," he told PTI.
"He will be given a bigger responsibility in the party. What responsibility he is going to get will be decided in a day or two," said the minister.
ALSO READ: 10 flights cancelled at Kolkata airport amid West Asia conflict
Asked if Nishant can be sent to the Rajya Sabha, Kumar said, "Anything can happen."
Kumar, who has been a minister in the state cabinet for more than a decade, is considered very close to the CM.
Social Welfare Minister Madan Sahni said JD(U) workers have been demanding Nishant Kumar's entry into active politics for several years.
"Now, it has been finalised. We are quite happy with the decision," Sahni, also a JD(U) leader, told PTI.
Rural Works Minister Ashok Choudhary said, "It is a big Holi gift for the party's rank and file and also the people of the state. Nishant's entry into active politics will certainly benefit the party. He is a photocopy of our leader, Nitish Kumar."
JD(U) ally BJP also welcomed Nishant's entry into politics.
"I welcome the new generation to enter politics. I thank the CM for leading the NDA in the recent assembly elections. It is a matter of great happiness that Nishant Kumar will now enter politics with the support of the CM and his family, and we wholeheartedly welcome him," Industries Minister Dilip Jaiswal told PTI Video.
"He is certainly an educated young leader, holding a BTech degree, and is a well-grounded individual. Every event happens in its own time, and perhaps now the right time has arrived. His entry should be warmly welcomed," said the former state BJP president.
Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar will go to the polls on March 16. The last date for filing nominations is March 5.
The elections will be held as the tenures of JD(U)'s Harivansh Narayan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, RJD's Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh, and RLM's Upendra Kushwaha are ending.
As per the latest tally in the state legislature, all five seats would now go to the ruling NDA. However, the RJD has decided to field its candidates to ensure the election is not decided unopposed.
