City is under security cover

 

Mumbai’s international and domestic airports, already on red alert since the July 11 serial bomb blasts in local trains, got extra cover on Friday. Security was beefed further and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) resorted to 100 per cent manual checking of passenger luggage to complement the mandatory X-ray scanning.

 

CISF chief Sanjay Prakash told DNA that several international airlines had issued notifications requesting specific mandatory guidelines to be followed while screening passengers boarding their flights. He elaborated that while American Airlines, Nat West Airlines and Delta Airlines had specifically requested for screening of luggage to weed out liquids and gels being carried by passengers flying into the USA, British Airways and other UK-based airlines had placed a ban on passengers carrying any hand luggage into the aircraft cabin.

 

Prakash said that none of the Gulf or African airlines (including South Africa) have so far issued any notification or requested special screening measures for passengers heading into those nations.

 

Prakash added that private US-based firms like General Electric and the Smith Group of companies have made presentations on explosive detection devices over the last 20 days to a specially designated committee comprising officials of the customs department, CISF personnel, Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCA) and representatives of the private consortium that has bagged the modernisation project of the Mumbai airport facilities.

 

“The committee is expected to give its go ahead for procuring the device found most suitable for Indian conditions in a week,” he said. However, it would take another month after the committee gives its nod that the machines would become operational at Mumbai’s two airports.

 

For the moment the emphasis of the CISF is on manual checking of passenger baggage. “We have staggered the shifts of our personnel (read cancelled all leave) to meet with the increased security demands,” said Prakash.

 

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs department also increased vigilance at all crucial entry and exit points at the airports with a special emphasis on the X-ray areas, bay and tarmac.

 

 

 

MUMBAI: Bottles of liquor triggered off alarm bells for the CISF and customs officials at Mumbai's international and domestic airports following the advisory against passengers carrying any liquids on aircrafts.

 

A CISF official told DNA, “While we are duly preventing passengers from carrying any gels and oil-based substances on board aircrafts, we had a slight problem with liquor bottles that passengers were walking in with”.

 

As passenger queues started getting longer, a quick decision was taken to allow the passengers, who declared the liquor bottles, to take a swig from each bottle before being allowed to proceed further.

 

Several passengers complained that CISF officials taking the advisory issued by USA on potential liquid explosives a bit too seriously.

 

 However, the one's, who downed the swigs, were probably saying ‘cheers’ to that.

 

 

Irate passengers hassled by the additional security checks imposed at check-in counters at Mumbai’s domestic and international airports criticized airlines for not bothering to inform them regarding the additional security requirements. “It is the responsibility of the concerned airlines on which we have booked our tickets to inform us of any such additional security dos and donts. They cannot expect passengers to gather information from news channels,” said an irate Nalini Singh, who had come to see-off her daughter at the airport. Others like Anuj Sharma, who was boarding a flight to Delhi, were upset at having to taste all the edible items they were carrying.

 

“I have just been told that I will have to taste the edible liquids I am carrying. This is ridiculous. Why should I open the seals and taste all the liquids I have in my baggage?” he asked in disgust. Sadiq Momin Hussein, who had to travel to Sharjah told DNA, “I had to leave for Sharjah on Thursday but the extensive security checks prevented me form reaching the counter before the flight took off. Today there are no reservations and my employment visa is set to expire in four days. I don’t know what to do now.”

 

 

 

Crossroads mall at Tardeo downed its shutters for over two hours on Friday afternoon to conduct a thorough check of its consumer-goods laden floors. The terror alert, however,  failed the frazzle the city's spirit and people flocked to malls and mulitplexes ahead of the long weekend and the upcoming Ganesh festival. Visitors were frisked and screened with hand-held metal detectors at malls and cinema halls.

 

 

BMC chief executive health officer Dr Jayraj Thanekar said that all major hospitals in the city were ready to tackle emergencies. He said city hospitals will remain on alert even after Independence Day, until September 15. As far as medicines, staff and equipment are concerned, all hospitals are well-provided.  All major private hospitals too have emergency medical services running 24x7.

 

 

The recent arrests of two Lashkar-e-Toiba men from the New Delhi railway station just before Independence Day has re-fuelled concerns about the vulnerability of the city's train lines. Both the GRP and the RPF have deployed additional forces on all stations. Besides stations, foot-over bridges and railway yards are also being patrolled. CCTVs have been installed at the Dadar railway station.

 

 

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated special aerial and marine surveillance exercises around the Bombay High oil and gas rigs. An ICG ship, which has already been strategically stationed in the creek close to the BARC at Trombay, has also been asked to monitor terrorist infiltration on the high seas. Dornier aircrafts, capable of carrying out day and night surveillance activities especially in rough weather, are being used for air surveillance of the Bombay High.