JUMLA, April 19 -- Flights halted once again due to repairs

Flight services have come to a grinding halt at Jumla Airport once again "due to repairs." Earlier in October last year, the authorities had closed the airport for two months citing repairs.

Air travel is of utmost importance to the people in this remote zone as there are no easy roadways for transportation. Locals are unhappy with the authorities for taking a 'silly' decision of going ahead with the repairs at an 'odd' time. They say the lack of flights or instant travel to hospitals in case of emergencies may now even take the lives of patients and pregnant women, among others.

Upon the recommendation of the Airport Security Committee, repair work at the airport had earlier ...