Operation Sindoor Live Updates: IAF Takes Full Control of Chandigarh Airport Amid High Alert

Chandigarh Airport: The Chandigarh International Airport has been shut down until further notice, following India’s bold and coordinated assault, Operation Sindoor, on terror camps in Pakistan's Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Ajay Kumar, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Chandigarh International Airport Ltd (CHIAL), confirmed that the air force has taken full control of the airport. He said all 52 domestic and international flights remain suspended until further orders.

The Indian Air Force has now taken full control of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh to ensure military preparedness, amid concerns of possible retaliatory strikes from across the border.

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Security has also been heightened at Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar, which lies just 32 kilometres from the Pakistan border. The airport was initially ordered to remain closed until 10 AM, but the closure has now been extended indefinitely.

“All 22 flights scheduled for today from Amritsar have been cancelled,” confirmed ADCP-2 Shrivinaila, adding,

“Orders have been issued to keep the airport closed until further notice. Passengers have been informed about the flight cancellations via messages.”

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The proximity of Amritsar to Muridke in Pakistan — just 60 km away — where one of the key terror targets was struck during Operation Sindoor, has played a major role in the heightened alert.

Passengers who arrived at the airports on Wednesday morning were turned back as barricades were put up. The Chandigarh airport sees a daily footfall of around 10,000 passengers.

Personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Punjab Police asked the passengers to return as the operation of the airport had been shut for civilian flights since the early hours of Wednesday. Amritsar member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who was bound for Vishakhapatnam, was among the passengers who had to return from the airport.

“I came to board the flight to Delhi along with my family. But we have just been informed that all flights have been cancelled. Though we won’t be able to reach our destination in time, we stand with our country and its security forces. We will manage our journey using another mode,” said Rekha, one of the passengers, outside the airport.

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