Thursday, July 28 2005 17:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Indian Airlines and Sahara Airlines will today (July 28, 2005) operate two flights each from NSC Bose international airport in Kolkata to Mumbai to clear the rush of passengers bound for that city who were stranded here since Tuesday (July 26, 2005), airport authorities here said.

Indian Airlines sources said that in accordance with the restrictions imposed on the landing weight of the aircraft on the runway in Mumbai, they have arranged to despatch over 250 passengers spread over two flights.

The IA flights were expected to take off at 1730 hrs (IST) and 1830 hrs (IST), the sources said.

The passengers stranded here since Tuesday evening due to unprecedented rains in Mumbai would be given priority in the passengers' list, the sources said.

The schedules of Sahara Airlines flights were not available.

The stranded passengers were provided accommodation in city hotels in the last two days, the sources said.

The Mumbai airport had been closed since Tuesday afternoon after the runway was inundated by an overflowing Mithi river adjoining the airport.