The ongoing flight disruptions across India have amplified a family's sorrow as they await the chance to conduct the final rites for their son. Saptarshi Das, a 23-year-old medical intern from Ramnagar in Agartala, Tripura, tragically died in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh on December 3, 2025. However, his body remains in a Delhi mortuary due to the widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo Airlines.
Saptarshi, along with his friends Arnav Chakraborty, Ayush Sharma, and Shrestha Pancholi, were involved in a fatal car accident on the Delhi-Lucknow national highway. Their car collided with a stationary truck at high speed, resulting in the immediate death of all four individuals. Saptarshi was nearing the completion of his MBBS internship at Venkateshwar Medical University in Uttar Pradesh, with only three months remaining.
Following the post-mortem examination, Saptarshi's body was released to his family for transportation back to Agartala. However, the sudden cancellation of IndiGo flights disrupted their plans, leaving them stranded in Delhi. Arpita Debsarkar, Saptarshi's mother, recounted the family's ordeal of repeated flight cancellations and the constant shuttling between the mortuary and their hotel. She expressed her anguish over the situation, highlighting the emotional distress caused by the uncertainty and delays.
The disruption caused by IndiGo has rippled across the country, including Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Tripura, where numerous flights have been cancelled, leaving passengers stranded. Passengers have voiced their frustration and accused IndiGo Airlines and the Airports Authority of India of neglecting their duties.
IndiGo has been facing criticism for its handling of cargo, especially concerning the transportation of human remains. An incident in October 2025 involving a coffin labeled "Extreme Heavy" with an elephant icon sparked public outrage, prompting the airline to review its cargo-labeling procedures.
In response to the widespread flight cancellations, IndiGo has issued an apology and promised to provide refunds and assistance to affected passengers. The airline attributed the disruptions to crew rostering issues related to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).
This is not the first time an airline has faced scrutiny over the handling of human remains. In July 2025, British families of victims from an Air India crash received the wrong bodies due to misidentification, causing additional grief and distress. Such incidents highlight the importance of maintaining the highest standards of care and respect when transporting human remains. In 2017, IndiGo launched a social service in association with Delhi Police to transport the bodies of underprivileged Northeast residents who died in Delhi to their hometowns free of cost.
As Saptarshi's family continues to wait in Delhi, the incident underscores the far-reaching consequences of flight disruptions and the need for airlines to prioritize the needs of passengers, especially in sensitive situations.
