Chaos at airport amid new rules to avoid new variant of coronavirus

New Delhi : Passengers had to wait for long time in long queues at India's biggest airports amid authorities trying to impose new rules to ensure new version of coronavirus does not enter at least via airports.

Like many other nations, India has also suspended flights from Britain, where there were reports of surge in new coronavirus cases.

Passengers arriving from Britain before the ban had to go under mandatory test on arrival, including Kamini Saraswat whose plane landed in New Delhi just before midnight.

Despite pre-booking a test, her turn came nine hours after arrival and she told Reuters she was still stuck at the airport waiting for the result.

"There is no clear communication," said Ms Saraswat, 28. "There is no social distancing."

Footage taken from her cellphone has been shared by the news agency Reuters. The footage showed long queues, passengers crowd at the airport.

Maharashtra, home to financial capital Mumbai, has taken additional measures, quarantining most passengers arriving from Europe and the Middle East for a week. Many European and Middle Eastern countries have also suspended flights from Britain, but act as transit hubs for the big airlines flying into India.