http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=141238
Stranded, passengers go on a sightseeing trip Express News Service Ahemdabad, July 27: Ever seen airline passengers stranded at a place take cancellation of flights due to bad weather in their stride? Well, that is what the stranded passengers of Mumbai-bound domestic flights did when there flights were diverted to Ahmedabad. Instead of spending the day cribbing about their scheduled meetings and other appointments which they could not attend, they chose to go out for sight seeing, enjoying the pleasant weather. Lodged comfortably in city hotels, the passengers of four Mumbai-bound domestic flights that were diverted to Ahmedabad, were all praise for their respective airlines as well as for the Airport authority officials. Even those who missed as many as four important meetings scheduled for Wednesday put all the blame on natures fury. Advertisement Dr William Britto, the owner of Chance Casino, one of the leading casinos in Goa was highly impressed by the Air-Sahara services, and also by the arrangements at Hotel Pride, where he is lodged. Britto, who is based in London and has his business spread across the globe, was on his way from Goa to Mumbai. I was vacationing with my family in Goa and we were to leave for London on Thursday. But as I had an important business meeting on Wednesday, I took the Mumbai flight to finish my work fast so that I could join them tomorrow. He said that he had four important meetings scheduled for Wednesday but unfortunately he could not even get through their numbers to inform them about this unprecedented delay. P Sreenivasan, a senior official with the State Bank of India, who was travelling from Delhi to Bombay on Indian Airlines flight was pleased that the RBI had declared a holiday on Wednesday. Though he said that he was very worried about his family that was stuck in Nerul. I just want to get home as early as possible, said a worried Sreenivasan. There were some who were going to Mumbai to board their connecting flight abroad. E M Britto, a production manager with Golden Loaf, a bakery company, who was aboard the connecting Indian Airlines flight to Sharjah confirmed that nearly 10 passengers who were to take the same flight, have been stuck in Ahmedabad. I have informed my office people in Sharjah that Ill not be able to report on time. But it is my family that is really worried as my entire schedule has gone haywire. The situation remains as bad as on Thursday with six Mumbai- bound flights grounded. S D Awasthi, airport director, informed that since the the Mumbai airport was still closed, the stranded passengers will have to spend their second night in Ahmedabad.