12 hours ago
Koneenica flags stroller concern at Kolkata airport
Kolkata: Bengali TV and film actor Koneenica Banerjee sparked a crucial conversation about airport accessibility after experiencing a frustrating delay in receiving her six-year-old daughter's stroller at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday.
The actor, who recently underwent spinal surgery, took to social media to express her dismay over what she described as repeated negligence from airport and airline staff in Kolkata regarding the return of gate-checked strollers.
Airport officials, however, stated that the airport authorities have nothing to do with stroller handling and that it is entirely managed by the airlines. Airline officials explained that while passengers can carry strollers to the plane gate on the aerobridge, the stroller is then sent to the cargo with a tag.
In India, strollers are usually returned with luggage at conveyor belts due to restrictions on opening the cargo area during flyer deplaning.
Banerjee was returning from a family trip to Thailand with her daughter, elderly father, and uncle. She shared a video on Facebook where she appeared visibly distressed while holding her sleeping child, waiting for the stroller. "It has been six years now since I faced the same issue at the Kolkata airport.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
O aparelho que os idosos descobriram para aliviar dores nos nervos e formigamento.
A arte do herbalismo
Undo
Every airline is guilty of this offence. They take the stroller once I board the flight but refuse to be prompt with handing it over when I need it post-landing.
Most international flights are at night, and a stroller is most handy if there is a sleeping baby. Men might not have problems carrying a child because they have well-built bodies, but it is a big issue for us," she told TOI.
She mentioned that travelling alone with a child is a nightmare for her since she underwent spinal surgery and cannot carry her daughter for long.
"I constantly pray that my daughter does not fall asleep on the flight before landing. When I returned from Thailand on Wednesday, I requested the airlines to fetch the stroller but there was no sight of it. My daughter will soon not need a stroller but I speak out for the many other mothers who continue to face this genuine problem. The reactions of mothers to my video and the experiences they shared only prove how difficult the situation is for us," she said.
Despite informing the airline about her medical condition and the need for the stroller, Banerjee said it was not returned at the aircraft gate, as is common practice in many airports worldwide. "In other cities and countries, they hand it over at the gate without fail. Why does this lapse happen only here?" she asked.
