Assam Floods: Air Fares Shoot Up to Rs 31,000 Between Guwahati-Silchar; Union Minister Reacts

Guwahati: As both rail and road travel got disrupted due to landslides at various locations followed by incessant rain, airfares have gone up twofold between Guwahati and Silchar.

In this regard, BJP MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy on Monday tweeted the same by tagging the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and said the ticket pricing needs to be addressed immediately.

''With railways & roadways disrupted due to heavy rains and landslides I m stunned to see #silchar-#guwahati airfare reach 31000/- for a 25 min flight for 300km!

This issue of ticket pricing needs to be addressed immediately! he tweeted.

After scanning, it was revealed that the price of the air fare on 16 May from Guwahati to Silchar (Air India) was priced at 31, 482; whereas, on May 17, the price was fixed at Rs 28, 622 (Air India). The price of air ticket of SpiceJet was Rs 11, 739 on 18 May. Looking at these fares, a regular traveller can easily make out that the same was much higher than normal.

Taking the cognizance of Roy's tweet, Scindia, replied, "Clarifying that the Guwahati to Silchar route is subject to fare cap within 15 days of travel to ensure exorbitant fares are not charged from travellers. Have ascertained from airlines operating to Silchar that they are adhering to the directions."

"Even then, kindly refer specific cases to the #airsewa portal to ensure necessary redressal," he said in another tweet.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in Assam deteriorated further following incessant rains in the past 24 hours when one person died in the Udalguri district. The rain-and-landslide-lashed Dima Hasao district continues to remain snapped by road and rail.

The army and Assam Rifles have started rescue operations in the Cachar district.

A breach on the NH-15 at Gohpur in front of Chaiduar College in the North Bank affected the communication between Guwahati and Lakhimpur.

Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah chaired a top-level meeting at Dispur this evening to plan restoration works in the state, including restoration of the food supply chain.

Top officials of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army, and other top officials were present at the meeting.

Also read: 26 districts in Assam reel under floods

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