5-year-old travels from Baramulla to Bengaluru alone amid IndiGo crisis

BENGALURU: For the past five-to-six days, cancellation of IndiGo services across the country has left passengers stranded. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport and several other airports were crowded with passengers, who were struggling uncertain flights.

The impact of IndiGo’s suspension also affected a five‑year‑old girl who was coming from Baramulla to Bengaluru via Chandigarh. An army Major’s daughter, who is serving in Baramulla, Kashmir, came from Chandigarh to Bengaluru alone, with the help of a caretaker, as her family was not with her. The little girl’s name is Thennal Aswin.

Five‑year‑old Thennal Aswin studies in Baramulla and now has winter holidays. Also, due to the cold in Kashmir, her parents plan to send her to her grandmother’s house in Bengaluru.

Thennal Aswin’s maternal uncle, Adarsh, booked a ticket for Chandigarh on IndiGo Airlines on December 5. But that flight ticket was cancelled. He booked an IndiGo flight the next day, which was also cancelled. Therefore, it was not possible to bring the five‑year‑old Aswin to reach Chandigarh.

However, on the December 6, a ticket was booked on Air India, and it was decided to send Thennal Aswin alone by that flight. Afterwards, extra money was given to the caretaker, and she reached Bengaluru on Sunday night.

Her uncle says that the total loss, including the two one‑way flight ticket rates he booked, the three tickets booked again, and the money given to the caretaker, amounts to more than Rs 50,000. Even after applying for a refund, no information has been received, he said.

Gopinath, ex-army and grandfather of Aswin said, “I was worried about the ongoing situation with the airline. I spent around Rs 1 lakh for her”.

Thennal Aswin said that she was not scared to travel alone in flight. Her uncle’s ticket got cancelled, and her parent decided to send her alone on a flight accompanied by a caretaker.