Parul Kanwar

[DRA India (Disability Rights Alliance) @DisabilityIndia]

The investigation report needs to be made public @RamMNK - too many lapses happening with PRM & wheelchairs - even a wheelchair waitlist, when travel itself isn't waitlisted!

Check #AirTravelWheelchairAtrocities for a roundup.

P.S. Much of CAR is not followed a decade later!

[Parul Kanwar @parulkanwar]

Just got back from the ICU where my grandmother is still being treated, and seeing multiple media channels reporting Air India Media’s supposed official statement.

@AirIndia, in an effort to work constructively with you to address the management failures at T3 Delhi Airport, I’m addressing the below inconsistent/incorrect statements. Let’s not misconstrue factual statements and instead direct our efforts to course correct, thereby preventing such an unnecessary and lamentable incident from happening in the future. Again, the intent is not to sensationalize, and I have kept an open line of communication with only the Air India’s Social Media and Online Reputation Management Lead (not taking any names). Even though there are multiple media requests, I will refrain from engaging.

* Raj Pasricha (my grandmother) did not on her own accord decide to walk but was forced to, as there was no buggy available at the terminal from car drop-off to PRM desk located near air India ticketing office. Even with a pre-booked, registered and confirmed wheelchair, there was no prioritization given to the family at PRM desk and there was no confirmed waiting time from the desk. PRM desk was agnostic to the departure time.

Air India Policy Excerpt

Outside of this incident: Would request the management to factor that if a differently abled person were to be travelling alone, is the expectation that they would need somehow reach the PRM desk (across 3 parallel drop-off lanes) on their own, there being no Buggy services available

* Incorrect claim of airport officials immediately attending to IP “upon noticing the incident”: AI staff unfortunately did not help with either recovering the IP from the floor nor did they call MI room for first aid when requested by the family member. Instead, the family member was pointed to MI room to self-seek medical first aid personnel.

* Incorrect claim of family rejecting doctors offer for additional medical attention: Apart from first aid given to help with the bleeding lip, the forehead injury was not attended to. No report of her condition/fit to travel was shared with us to ascertain her ability fly, in fact AI staff facilitated fast track boarding.

Please corroborate these statements with CCTV footage, which would clearly agree with the above.

Happy to connect with Air India Management in-person/over call to work towards bringing about a positive outcome from this incident.

@DGCAIndia @MoCA_GoI @TataCompanies @tatatrusts @RamMNK @KanchanGupta @rajeshdogra7 @AndrewTAviation

[Parul Kanwar @parulkanwar]

I post this because I have no choice, and because it infuriates me that there is such little value for human life and wellbeing.

@airindia, you treated my grandmother so poorly, and with such little regard. You should be ashamed.

For our travel back from Delhi to Bangalore on 4th March 2025, we booked a wheelchair for my 82 year old grandmother (widow of a decorated Lt General, who has fought for India in several wars) well in advance - confirmed by the airline. Upon reaching the airport, she was not allocated one. We tried for almost an hour, requesting airline staff, airport help desk, alternate airline staff from @indigo (who incidentally had a free wheelchair but won’t share). With no other option, this old lady slowly made her way across 3 parking lanes at T3 New Delhi, on foot with assistance from a family member. She managed to enter the airport on foot, still no wheelchair or assistance was provided. Ultimately, her legs gave way, and she fell - she fell in front of the Air India premium economy counter. Not one person stepped in to help. We requested someone to help get first aid - no help. Expectation from Air India staff was for the family member to go to the MI room and get medical aid. Finally, the wheelchair arrived, and she was promptly boarded without a proper checkup with a bleeding lip and injury to her head and nose. On flight crew did help with ice packs and called ahead to Bangalore airport for medical aid, where she was seen by a doctor and given 2 stitches.

Today, I sit here typing this from the ICU. She has been here 2 days under observation for potential brain bleeds. My mother and father watch as doctors pump her with medication, and her left side loses strength. From where we stand, it’s a long road ahead of pain and recovery which she did not deserve.

We have lodged complaints at DGCA, and with Air India and await action.

Attaching pictures of my grandmother, at her grandsons wedding on 3rd March, followed by her condition on 4th and 5th March.

Please share for broader reach.

@TataCompanies @tatatrusts @MoCA_GoI @FAANews @RamMNK @DelhiAirport

#AirIndia #service #delhiairport #bangaloreairport

[Parul Kanwar @parulkanwar]

#thisistata ?

[Parul Kanwar @parulkanwar]

@airindia Done, but do not call me without due diligence and investigation on your end. Not interested in excuses.