BENGALURU:The lost and found (L&F) department at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has received over 20,000 items in the financial year 2017-18, out of which, 2,492 items were electronic gadgets including watches/pens, laptops, iPads and cameras. Out of the total 20,413 items dropped off with the L&F team, 5,686 were handed over to the original owners, while 7,153 items, mostly perishable goods, were disposed of, the airport operator of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) said in a statement.
As per BIAL’s policy, articles that remain unclaimed for more than 90 days, are either given to charity or auctioned to staff on the BLR airport campus. “We never fail to be awestruck with the variety and quantum of articles the L&F Department receives. BIAL has a system in place to ensure that the items are stored safely,” said Javed Malik, Chief Operating Officer (COO), BIAL. According to officials, passengers tend to leave behind items like shoes, clothes and sometimes, entire suitcases.
Articles prohibited for air travel and surrendered to the security personnel also find their way to the L&F storage amongst other items like bags, apparel, medical accessories, kitchen appliances, travel accessories, sunglasses, tools and toys.
According to their policy, electronic gadgets and government-issued documents are retained for 90 days from the date they are found. After this period, documents are sent back to the respective departments. Indian passports are sent to the Regional Passport Office while foreign passports are sent to the embassies within 30 days of receiving it. Bank documents, chequebooks and passbooks are disposed within 72 hours while perishables are disposed within 24 hours.
Details of the Lost and Found items are put up on the website and owners are contacted to request them to collect the items personally or through someone authorised by them. “Owners, whose details are available, are contacted to hand over their belongings,” Malik added.
