The check-in portal D in the Kolkata airport’s departure area, where a fire on Wednesday night forced the evacuation of hundreds of passengers and staff from the terminal building and delayed many flights, could not be made operational till late on Thursday, officials said.
The fire could have started from the utility room adjacent to the check-in portal, where airline employees store boarding cards, baggage tags and other items, the officials said.
The airport authorities have set up a committee to investigate the cause of the fire.
The fire broke out at 9.12pm on Wednesday at the D portal and was doused at 9.40pm, officials said.
Thick black smoke had covered large portions of the terminal building’s departure area. Passengers and employees of the airport and airlines were evacuated.
Eight fire tenders had to be pressed into service to douse the flames.
“The fire tenders used water to douse the flames. So, the portal and the area around it was submerged in water. The water is being removed,” said C. Pattabhi, director of the airport. The portal remained sealed through the day.
Airport sources said SpiceJet and Vistara airlines used the check-in portal D. The portal has 20 counters, of which 15 are usually used. The portal was closed when the fire broke out, so no passengers were near it, officials said.
“Both airlines (SpiceJet and Vistara) were provided other check-in counters on Thursday. Services were not affected,” said Pattabhi.
“The fire could have started in the utility room. We are waiting for the report of the probe committee,” said Pattabhi.
Airport officials said the departure of many flights on Wednesday night were delayed because check-in could not resume before 10.30pm. Passengers were seen sitting outside the terminal building while firefighters were trying to douse the flames inside.
“One of our constables was the first responder. He cut off the power supply to the check-in portal as soon as the fire was spotted,” said an official of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in charge of security at the airport.
Many passengers who had already checked in and were at the boarding gate were taken to the ground floor.
Passengers of several flights which had touched down were stranded inside the aircraft as they were not allowed to get off because of safety reasons.