Flights affected as loaders, trolley providers choose prayers over work

Airport employees, mainly the trolley providers and the loaders who are members of the Sena-led employees union, refused to report to work saying that they were praying for Sena patriarch's speedy recovery and would not resume duty unless they hear that he was in a better shape.u00a0

Get well soon: Shiv Sainiks gathered near Matoshree pray for their party leader's speedy recovery of health. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi

According to sources at the airport, flights between 6 am and 7 am were affected by this sudden development.

"Almost a dozen flights got delayed after trolley providers and luggage loaders, belonging to Sena-led employees union, decided not to undertake their job due to bad health of their party supremo. Later, the top brass of union intervened and the employees resumed work after an hour," said a source.

Majority of the flights that got affected were Delhi-bound. Airport officials had a tough time dealing with passengers on a Delhi-bound flight, as they blamed the management for not making arrangements despite knowing that such a situation might arise.

Apart from flights, Sena chief's bad health also affected taxi and autorickshaw services at the airport. With fewer numbers of cabbies offering services at the airport, passengers were forced to wait for almost an hour to find taxis.u00a0