Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jul 18: Air India officials allegedly stopped a woman of Mangaluru origin and her six-month-old baby from boarding a flight to Mangaluru at Kuwait International Airport for want of the baby's RTPCR test certificate.
Union minister Shobha Karandlaje intervened in the matter, and together with the Indian foreign ministry, was able to resolve the matter in 10 minutes and the mother and baby were later allowed to board.
Aditi Suresh Karopady, a native of the city, who lives with her husband in Kuwait was about to board a flight to Mangaluru from Kuwait airport on Saturday along with her six-month-old baby. Aditi had got RTPCR negative report with her. However, she did not get the same done for her baby as the travel agent in Kuwait as well as the Air India officials had reportedly told her that it was not required.
Aditi had arrived at the Kuwait airport at 3.30 pm in order to board the flight to Mangaluru along with her baby. When her turn for boarding came at 3.45 pm, she was not allowed to board by the airport officials, who told her that RTPCR test was required for the baby in order to board the flight. The official assured that they would delay the flight by half an hour if Aditi could get the clearance for the baby within the time frame.
A distressed Aditi started crying as she was shocked at the thought of not being able to travel. She immediately contacted NRI Mohandas Kamath who works in Kuwait and sought his help.
Mohandas Kamath relayed the matter immediately to the Twitter accounts of PM Modi, minister of state for foreign affairs Muralidharan and Mangaluru International airport authority. In addition, he also contacted Abhishek, PA of union minister for state Shobha Karandlaje. Shobha had instructed her PA to contact the union foreign ministry immediately and respond to the issue.
At 4.30 pm, both Aditi and her baby were welcomed by the staff of Air India flight. The flight left for Mangaluru at 5 pm. All this happened within 10 minutes flat. There was widespread appreciation for the presence of time exhibited by minister Shobha Karandlaje and for the prompt response by the union government.