Heathrow fire postponed Bengal CM's UK trip one day

A fire at Heathrow Airport has delayed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to the UK by nearly a day. The fire disrupted power supply, affecting tens of thousands of passengers and causing travel chaos worldwide. Banerjee was originally set to leave Kolkata on Friday night. However, her flight was rescheduled to Saturday morning, and she eventually departed on Saturday evening. She expressed her frustration about the disruption, stating, “This has disrupted the entire schedule. The trip has become very hectic, including two days of travel.” Since there are no direct flights from Kolkata to London, the chief minister has been trying to get a direct connection. She is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the University of Oxford on March 27. In addition, she plans to participate in several events organized by the Indian High Commission, a business summit, and a government program during her stay. To manage the government in her absence, Banerjee has formed a group of ministers and a task force. Senior leaders from her party, the Trinamool Congress, will oversee party affairs while she is away. She also mentioned that political opponents are trying to damage the image of West Bengal during her trip. Banerjee has received invitations from other countries, including Poland and Australia, and is considering a visit to Japan in 2027. West Bengal's governor expressed pride in Banerjee's upcoming lecture at Oxford University, stating that her success reflects positively on the state.