Srinagar, May 26: A mock drill triggered a hijack scare at the Srinagar International Airport here Saturday morning.
According to sources, hundreds of police, CRPF, BSF and Air Force personnel Saturday morning carried out a mock drill at the airport, which according to officials was aimed to impart awareness about hijacking incidents.
Sources added that the forces that joined the drill were seen running around the airport. The action created panic among the passengers and other people.
“Police and other security forces are here at every nook and corner. The situation is looking grim as the force personnel look alert and are gazing at everybody,” Ghulam Rasool, a passenger who was to board a flight told Greater Kashmir. “The armored vehicles of police and other forces have been deployed at every road junction leading to the airport starting from Barzulla,” he added.
Abdul Majid, a passenger, who came from Delhi, said that once he came out of the Airport, the situation was quite different. “I was unable to understand the situation and forces personnel were alert from every side,” he said. “Later I came to know about the mock drill.”
There were rumors that a Go Air flight from New Delhi to Srinagar has been hijacked. But the Airport authorities said there was delay in landing of flight because of heavy rainfall.
A senior police officer, who was part of the mock drill, said that the force personnel were taught how to cope if there is a hijack. “There was a fake airplane and training to cope up with hijacking was given from one of the terminals of the airport,” he said.
Director Srinagar International Airport, O P Bhavniwalla confirmed to Greater Kashmir that there was a mock drill, however he denied the reports of hijack scare. “We are carrying out such drills regularly and there was nothing worrying,” he said. Bhavniwalla said there was a little disturbance after a Go Air flight took time in landing because of heavy rains.
Sources in Director General Civil Aviation office in New Delhi told Greater Kashmir that any such exercise carried in any part of the country has to be done after getting approval from it.
“We have no knowledge about such exercise. It’s not proper on their part to hold it without our approval,” said an official in DGCA.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 IST