Video: Commercial flight operations begin from Kochi Naval airport

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Video: Commercial flight operations begin from Kochi Naval airport

Kochi - It is after 18 years that civil air services resumed at the naval base.

By PTI

Published: Mon 20 Aug 2018, 9:26 AM

Last updated: Mon 20 Aug 2018, 2:31 PM

Commercial flight operations from the Naval airport at Kochi commenced today with the first Air India flight from Bengaluru arriving this morning.

And the first civilian flight lands @indiannavy's INS Garuda in Kochi. For now, passengers to be taken to Bengaluru. Coimbatore and Madurai later.
(History - before Kochi airport was built, Garuda would handle civilian flights, till June 10, 1999) pic.twitter.com/21BfQVqItx
- Jugal R Purohit (@jugalrp) August 20, 2018

Small aircraft are being operated from the naval airport as the Kochi International Airport has shut operations till August 26 following flooding in the heavy rains

The first AI flight from Bengaluru arrived this morning and returned by 0830 hrs

#INSGaruda opens up for domestic flights for the first time in 18 years. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/nIMqj53tEq
- Shalini Lobo (@shalinilobo93) August 20, 2018

Train services between state capital and Ernakulam are also slowly becoming normalised

Skeletal services were run between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha-Kottayam routes saw trains packed with flood affected people moving to the houses of their friends and relatives

The deadly monsoon rains have claimed 210 lives since August 8 and has displaced over 7.14 lakh people from their homes

In the worst affected Chengannur in Alappuzha district, efforts are on to rescue some of those stranded in certain pockets, including Pandanad

According to India Met Department, a fresh low pressure area has formed over North West Bay of Bengal yesterday

However, it will not have any significant impact over Kerala, where rainfall is likely to decrease further gradually during the next five days

Rehabilitation will be the next big focus of the state government with most of the marooned having been rescued, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said

Rainfall over Kerala during the South West Monsoon (June 1 to Aug 19) has been exceptionally high

Kerala has so far received 2346.6 mm rains against the normal of 1649.5 mm, according to IMD

It's a historic day as the airport is back into civil operations.Substantial work done to ensure all facilities are available&support is given for aircraft to operate. We've segregated parking bays so that unhindered operations take place: Commodore RR Iyer, CO, INS Garuda #Kochi pic.twitter.com/dcZvLvF8YF
- ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2018

High-range Idukki recorded the highest excess rainfall (92 per cent above normal) followed by Palakkad (72 per cent above normal)

These two districts had reported several deaths and massive destructions due to flooding and landslides

Thirteen people lost their lives yesterday while 7,24,649 lakh people were housed in 5,645 relief camps across the state

Rescue operations are in final stages

Around 22,000 people were rescued yesterday alone in the operations launched by the defence personnel, national and state disaster response forces, fishermen and local people.The next big challenge for the government is the epidemic

The chief minister said in each panchayat six health officers would be deployed to ensure there was no outbreak of any communicable diseases as the flood water recedes

People have started returning home from relief centres with flood waters receding.Many were shocked to see the state of their homes covered with mud and slush as the water receded.