Air Sahara, a private airliner from India, has ruffled the feathers of the Nepal Association of Blind by allegedly refusing to fly a blind Nepalese passenger on the plea that he was unescorted.
The airline reportedly refused to allow Norbahadur Limbu, president of the association, to take the flight, saying Indian laws do not allow blind passengers to travel unescorted.
Limbu was travelling to New Delhi Friday to catch a connecting flight to Cape Town in South Africa, where he was to attend the sixth general assembly of the World Blind Union.
Air Sahara, which began flights between Kathmandu and New Delhi in September, reportedly did not volunteer to provide an escort for Limbu. Neither did it make arrangements for Limbu to return home after refusing to fly him.
The Nepal Association of Blind has sent a petition to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiva Shankar Mukherjee, condemning the "injustice" and "misbehaviour" of Air Sahara personnel. Nepal this week celebrated the 13th World Disabled Day.
The association said if India really has such laws, they should be revised.
It also said since Limbu was unable to reach New Delhi as per schedule, his entire itinerary would have to be reorganised and has demanded compensation for the inconvenience.
--Indo-Asian News Service