Beware! You could be at risk of being frisked while entering the flight

Chennai:

Beware! You could be at risk of being frisked and your baggage checked before boarding a flight a Chennai international as well as domestic airport as airports across the country have been put on Red Alert.

Airport Authority of India, Chennai, director Deepak Shastri told Express that passengers should reach airport at least three hours prior to the departure of their flight in morning hours.

“The morning hours are usually the peak hours where the traffic is more and passengers are requested to undergo various security checks before boarding their flight. So they should be there three hours earlier,” said Shastri.

This time the security agencies are taking extra precaution and have introduced a new check after the security clearance.

This is just before boarding the flight. The passenger is at the risk of being frisked and his baggage checked before he boards the flight,” says Shastri.

A Airport terminal officer said that the silent security ladder check has been introduced three days ago. After the Pathankot attack, the security in airport was beefed up. “We relaxed it for a couple of days but now we are on Red Alert and the security is foolproof. We have also banned entry of visitors inside the airport till Republic Day,” he said.

Meanwhile, 400 Central Industrial Security Force personnel are patrolling the airport from inside. It is in coordination with airport authority officials, Airline officials, customs and immigration officials. One could see even the CISF dog squad screening suspicious passengers.

Inside airport baggages are double checked and unattended baggages are taken care off. There is also a quick reaction task force besides security forces are maintaining surveillance inside the airfields. Even the air cargoes are being checked.

Outside the airport, State police has sealed nearly all the entry points except the main entrance. Two wheelers are not allowed to park in the airport premises except parking lot. Fifty police personnel in each shift (total three shifts) are manning the airport.  

Airlines have intimated passengers to come three hours early so that they don’t miss the flight. A Jet Airways staff said that now baggage would be screened even while passengers are about to board flights.

While passengers find the checks uncomfortable but they agree that the security is paramount. “I came here three hours ago after I was intimated by Air India,” said a passenger. However, some are yet unaware of the stringent checks. An aged couple on way to Madurai came just two hours earlier fearing that they would miss the flight.  

Interestingly, airports across the state are on high alert. In Coimbatore,  Airport Director G Prakash Reddy has confirmed that the security measures has been stepped at the Coimbatore International Airport.

In Tiruchy, a multi layer security arrangements monitored by deputy commandant, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Prabhat Ranjan Mishra have been made to ensure nothing goes unchecked at airport. Around 350 CISF personnel in all capacities are involved on security duty round the clock in the premises.

Meanwhile, Quick Reaction Team of the CISF had been strengthened and sniffer dogs of the force trained in detecting explosive substances had been pressed into service.