Mon Nov 17 16:06:46 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article version:
Summary:
This article from “The Hindu” e-paper reports on the Lost & Found operations at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, India. A passenger named Jaskaran Singh recovered his backpack after he left it on a shuttle bus, which sparked online appreciation. The airport’s Lost & Found department has received over 30,000 items this year and successfully returned over 10,000. Bags, electronics, and watches are the most frequently returned items. The airport has a dedicated team and uploads details of found items on its website. Unclaimed items are kept for a month (except for perishables, bank documents, and passports which have different handling timelines) and then disposed of. To claim an item, passengers need to provide proof of identity, boarding pass, and a description of the item.
News Article:
Kempegowda Airport Boasts High Success Rate in Returning Lost Items
Bengaluru, November 17, 2025 – Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru is earning praise for its efficient Lost & Found department, with a notable success rate in reuniting passengers with their misplaced belongings.
The airport’s efficiency was recently highlighted when Jaskaran Singh, a passenger arriving from Chandigarh, left his backpack on an airport shuttle bus on October 20th. Upon realizing his mistake before check-in, he sought assistance from airport staff. Using details from a UPI transaction Mr. Singh had made, the staff tracked down the bus and successfully recovered the bag. Mr. Singh shared the incident on X (formerly Twitter), generating widespread appreciation.
According to Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) officials, the Lost & Found department has received 30,842 items this year alone. Impressively, 10,605 of those items have been successfully returned to their rightful owners. The most common items returned include bags (2,850), electronic devices (1,779), and watches (941).
“We have a dedicated team to handle lost and found articles,” said a BIAL official. “Passengers can be assured that anything received by the Lost & Found Department is stored safely.”
To facilitate the return of lost items, the airport regularly uploads details of found items to its website, along with instructions on how to claim them. Passengers whose contact information is available are also contacted directly.
Unclaimed items are held for one month, with exceptions made for certain items. Indian passports are sent to the Regional Passport Office, and foreign passports are forwarded to the respective embassies after 30 days. Sensitive documents like bank cards and checkbooks are disposed of after 48 hours, and perishable goods are discarded within 24 hours.
To claim a lost item, owners must present a copy of their boarding pass, a detailed description of the item, and valid government-issued photo identification. If authorizing someone else to claim an item, additional documentation is required, including a letter of authorization and identification for both parties.
The Kempegowda International Airport’s Lost & Found success demonstrates its commitment to passenger satisfaction and efficient airport operations.
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