Arrival operations at Cochin international airport resume after two hours

Arrival operations at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) resumed nearly two hours after it was suspended in view of possible inundation in the airport area following a rising water level in the Periyar river.

The CIAL is situated close to the river.

"As the situation is improved we are resuming all operations from 3.05 pm today," a CIAL spokesperson said. The CIAL had earlier stopped arrival operations from 1.10 pm, as a precautionary measure.

The decision to resume arrival operations was taken after the situation was reviewed by Ernakulam District Collector and top officials of the airport management, the spokesperson said.

Earlier, the Ernakulam district administration conducted a review of the situation at the airport after the water level in a canal near it started rising.

The decision to suspend the arrival operation was taken after four shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened this morning to release excess water.

One shutter of the Idukki dam was also partially opened as a trial run.

The opening of the dam shutters had resulted in an increase in the water level in the Periyar river.

Heavy rains have been lashing several parts of Kerala for the past few days, leading to a copious inflow into the state's reservoirs.