Pune: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deputed at Pune airport are busy collecting valuables forgotten by passengers during security checks or in the departure area. The officers collect these items and deposit them in the airport manager’s custody and inform the passengers to collect the items.
Providing security at the airport and collecting lost or forgotten valuables is now part of the daily routine of the CISF, though rarely is it appreciated. In two such cases on August 16 and August 26, two passengers forgot valuables including jewellery, cash, debit, credit cards of many banks and thanked the CISF and Pune airport authority after getting back these items. A female senior citizen travelling by GoAir from Pune to Kolkata on August 16 forgot her bag at the boarding gate. It bags contained jewellery and cash. During a round, CISF staffers found the bag lying on the seat. After inquiries, they deposited it with the airport manager.
“My mother was travelling to Kolkata. She forgot her bag during boarding. I received a call from the airport at midnight, but I missed it. But thanks to the technology (Truecaller and missed call alert), which showed the number belonged to Pune airport, I picked up the call,” said the daughter of the senior citizen on condition of anonymity.
“I was informed that my mother forgot her bag near the boarding gate. Next day, I received the bag,” she further added. “There was a senior citizen’s card in the bag. They got my mobile number from the card. I wrote a thank you letter to the the Pune airport authority,” she said.
In the letter, she stated: “This is to proudly inform you that due to the joint efforts of our Pune airport staff, special mention of Mr. Suresh Bangar and Ravindra Khamker, we got back our lost purse (containing valuable jewellery and cash as it is). The terminal manager immediately called me up and was very assuring and supportive so we could sleep at peace that night. Also we were impressed with the way the staffers followed the protocol and cross-checked whether the purse genuinely belonged to us,” she said in the letter.
In the other incident on August 26, IT professional Sohail Islam arrived from Kolkata to Pune, but forgot his wallet at the arrival gate when he was booking a cab. “I arrived at night and tried to book a cab. While I was transferring money to my e-wallet, I forgot my wallet at the arrival gate. The wallet had my debit and credit cards of different banks. After a few hours, I received a call from the airport office about my wallet. I immediately reached the airport and got back my wallet. I thanked the CISF and airport officials for returning it back,” said Sohail. Passengers generally forget laptops, mobile phones and other electronic items. Officials from the CISF said there is a rising trend among passengers to forget valuable items.
“We keep these valuables safely and return them if they show their I-card with the boarding pass,” said the CISF officers.
