WB lockdown: No flight operation for 7 days in month of August; schools, colleges to remain closed till Aug 31

Flight operations at Kolkata airport will remain suspended for 7 days in the month of August amidst the bi-weekly lockdown announced by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The dates on which the flight operations have been suspended are August 5, August 8, August 16, August 17, August 23, August 224 & August 31.

"Flight operations at the airport will remain suspended on 5th, 8th,16th,17th, 23rd, 24th & 31st August 2020 as per the lockdown announced by West Bengal Government. Passengers are requested to contact concerned airlines for changes in flight schedule" Kolkata airport announced.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that bi-weekly complete lockdown in the state will continue in August, with restrictions on all Saturday and Sunday except on Eid-ul-Adha.

Last week, the state government announced a complete lockdown on two days of the week in addition to broad-based lockdown in containment zones.

This week, however, will not see complete lockdown on Saturday, August 1 due to Eid-al-Adha festival. There will be lockdown in containment zones on August 1 and complete lockdown on Sunday. 

There will also not be complete lockdown on Monday, August 3 because of Raksha Bandhan. 

Next bi-weekly lockdown will be enforced on August 8-9 (Saturday, Sunday). 

Bi-weekly complete lockdown in West Bengal will be imposed on August 2, 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 30.

Banerjee also stated that all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in the state will remain closed till August 31 as COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of stopping.

Mamata stated that the administration is thinking of reopening schools from September 5 which incidentally also happens to be Teachers' Day, and continue classes till Durga Puja only if the COVID-19 situation normalises.

She said that a meeting will be held at the end of August to plan on whether to re-open schools or not, adding that schools would only be open on alternate days.

“Till 31st August all educational institutions will remain closed in the state. If the situation improves then we will think about reopening schools on alternate days starting on Teacher’s day till Durga Puja. But only if situation permits,” Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.