Para athlete and disabled activist Suvarna Raj had to miss her IndiGo flight to Udaipur on Tuesday morning allegedly as the security men at the Delhi's IGI airport failed to scan her wheelchair due to lack of equipment. The airline, however, said that Raj had reported late because of which she missed her flight.
A few weeks ago, Raj had come into the limelight after she was allotted an upper birth in a train while revelling from New Delhi railway station. Talking to DNA, Raj said that she had reached airport well in advance to ensure security checks are done in time.
"The security men did not have proper equipment. They kept me waiting. After a while, we learned that the flight had already taken off. I have travelled many times but such callousness is rare. This isn't the first time I am travelling in my wheelchair, " Raj said.
She said that the airport authority must be well equipped so that inconvenience to those disabled can be avoided.
"When is our society going to be sensitive towards disabilities or the so called Divyangs by our Honourable Prime Minister. I was supposed to take off from Delhi to Udaipur by Indigo Airline at 1.35 pm, but when I headed for Check-in, I was denied boarding as they said they will take time to scan the wheelchair. Why do wheelchair bound people face such problems at airports? They always force the disabled to change wheelchair. Why don't they use current technologies which are being used at all international airports?" She asked.
Raj added that we need to be aware, sensitised and helpful to Divyangs if we need to build a humanitarian society.
The airline, however, claimed that Raj had arrived late and counters were closed by then, because of which she missed the flight.
"Para Athlete Ms Suvarna Raj missed her flight 6E 751, DEL-UDR today as she reported late to the airport at 1254 hrs. The counter closed at 1244 hrs. There was not enough time to pack and get her wheelchair scanned (X-ray). Since she is a para athlete of national repute; IndiGo has booked her on flight 6E-746 scheduled to depart tomorrow morning at no additional cost," said an airline spokesman.
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 "Suvarna Raj")
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