Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Aug 11: Almost all the road connection from the city to the capital of the state are closed due to landslides and flooding. The only option left for the passengers of the coastal region to reach the capital is through air. Noticing the increase in demand, the airlines, instead of giving rebate during devastating natural calamity the state is facing, have skyrocketed the price with the intention of making quick bucks.

Shiradi Ghat and Charmadi Ghat are closed due to landslide. The state highway that connects Bantwal with Mysuru is disconnected due to the water from the Cauvery river overflowing on the road at Koppa of Kushalnagar.

The train connection to Bengaluru is stopped due to landslide as well water logging on the tracks. So the travellers of the coastal region who want to go to Bengaluru have to make use of the last option of travelling by air, which is the last option left to them. However, the airlines have suddenly increased their price eight folds. The ticket fare between Mangaluru-Bengaluru is Rs 2,000 on normal season. However, the fare on Sunday, August 11 was Rs 16,000.

IndiGo and SpiceJet have four flights flying from Mangaluru to Bengaluru. The hapless passengers are cursing the airline companies for looting them instead of showing compassion and reducing the prices of ticket.

During normal season the price between Mangaluru-Bengaluru is Rs 2,280. However, on Friday, the rates ranged from Rs 9,715 to Rs 53,600. The price quoted by Air India on August 11 was between Rs 14,600 to Rs 15,596. IndiGo quoted Rs 17,599. The fares for August 12 quoted by Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet are Rs 18,851, Rs 10,673 and Rs 10,214 respectively.