Well, things just got a bit heated in India. With the new missile attacks reported on Pakistan, multiple airports in Northern and Western India have gone completely quiet. That’s right: dozens of airports shut, hundreds of flights scrapped, and travelers are scrambling.
Let me backtrack a little.
As of earlier this week, Indian officials are said to have set off a missile within Pakistani borders. The goal? An “anti-terrorist training facility,” as deemed by Indian officials. This was in retaliation for the vicious assault on 26 Indian tourists in Kashmir last month which, for lack of a better phrase, rattled the region.
Fast forward to now and the space over India and Pakistan’s border region has gone extremely silent.
Over 20 Airports on a Standstill
This also includes major markers like Amritsar and Srinagar which sit close to the border. Can’t say I’m shocked.
Just on Wednesday, IndiGo canceled 165 flights. Air India’s international flights were even forced to make detours, with one landing in Delhi rather than Amritsar.
Flights Cancelled, Plans Crushed
The pandemonium has caused thousands of passengers to be stranded. Like Rahul, the 32 year old entrepreneur who was trying to get back home. He was specifically flying from Dubai to Chandigarh, however, the sudden airport shutdown meant Chennai went out of the window.
“They booked me to Delhi instead, offered a bus ride to Chandigarh,” he said.
And What About Pakistan?
Pakistan, on the more lighthearted side of things, has resumed their national flights after a brief halt at four of the airports. The situation over there is a notch better than India. Although, who knows what the next few days will provide.
Not the First Time
Both of these countries have taken extreme measures several times before. During other similar conflicts, India and Pakistan have enforced airspace bans on each other. It serves as a stark reminder of the fact you could be in the middle of a calm routine and, in a few minutes, have your entire life turned upside down due to geopolitics.
Bottom Line
Traveling to or from northern India these days? Good luck. It’s not exactly seamless travel, with canceled or rerouted flights and lengthy bus trips. But as they say, under the current circumstances, most people appear to be relatively patient. Let’s just hope it all calms down soon.
