Mohali, May 15 -- The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Air India to pay Rs.50,000 as compensation to a Zirakpur resident for cancelling his flight from Bagdogra city of West Bengal a day before his scheduled travel in 2022. The bench comprising commission president SK Aggarwal and members Paramjeet Kaur and Lt Col Jasbir Singh Bath noted deficiency in service after finding that the airline failed to provide prior intimation, alternative arrangements or basic assistance to the passenger and his family following the cancellation. Complaint Rahul Bhatnagar, a resident of Dhakoli, mentioned that he had booked round-trip tickets from Delhi to Bagdogra through a travel platform - Goibibo - for a family vacation with his wife and minor daughter in March 2022. The family travelled to Darjeeling on March 18, 2022. On March 22, just one day before the scheduled return journey, Air India cancelled the Bagdogra-Delhi flight scheduled for March 23, citing runway maintenance at the airport, he stated. Bhatnagar told the commission that the sudden cancellation left the family stranded in West Bengal without any support from the airline. He said he arranged alternate travel on his own, including a taxi journey to Darbhanga in Bihar and fresh flight tickets to return home. The complainant claimed he spent more than Rs.50,000 on transport, fresh tickets, meals and other expenses caused by the cancellation. Air India, in its reply, argued that the flight was cancelled because of runway maintenance controlled by the Airports Authority of India and claimed the situation was beyond the airline's control. The airline also stated that the ticket amount had already been refunded through the booking platform. Goibibo told the commission that it only acted as a booking facilitator and had no role in flight operations or cancellations. The commission observed that even if the cancellation resulted from operational reasons, the airline remained responsible for assisting passengers. The bench noted that Air India failed to show that it had informed the passenger in advance or provided any rerouting, accommodation, meals or transport assistance. The commission directed Air India to pay Rs.50,000 towards compensation for mental agony, harassment and litigation expenses within 30 days, failing which the amount wouldcarry 6% annual interest until payment....