Kerala floods: Kochi airport suffers estimated loss of over Rs 220 cr

Floods in the southern state of Kerala has hit the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) very hard, as it has suffered an estimated loss of over Rs 220 crore. A CIAL official in Kochi said that the management has started rebuilding the damaged infrastructure, including 2.5 km long airport wall, that collapsed after Periyar river overflowed.
 
The official told a news agency that the runway, taxi bay, duty free shops and other areas of international and domestic terminals were also submerged, causing damage to electrical equipment including runway lights.
 
The floods have also damaged the solar power system of the world's first solar-powered airport, he told PTI, while adding, "We have launched efforts on a war-footing to rebuild the damaged infrastructure. Our initial assessment is that we have suffered an estimated loss of Rs 220 crores in the floods." 
 
The official reportedly said that around 200 workers have been engaged to clean up the terminal building, and the work is expected to be reopened next week.
 
Earlier on Monday, the Naval Air Station, INS Garuda, has reportedly commenced civil aircraft operations.
 
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Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, was able to operate two flights to Bangalore and one flight to Coimbatore, while an Indigo flight managed to do a trial landing, said the report, adding that flying operations may start today.