When you’re travelling, there is a lot going on in your head! Juggling between luggage and important documents, misplaced belongings can become an unintentional reality. In 2024, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport reported over 64,000 lost items in its Lost & Found Department.
Mumbai Airport’s Lost & Found Dept Reported 64,000 Lost Items Last Year
With an average of 5,000 items being left behind by passengers each month, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) safeguarded an astounding 64,000 lost items last year. Passengers often leave behind valuables like cash, jewellery, and essential documents, as well as everyday items like jackets, phones, and earphones at the airport.
According to a press release, of the 64,000 lost items, CSMIA’s Lost & Found Department successfully reunited 9,588 items with their rightful owners in 2024. In February 2024 alone, the airport authorities were able to return 980 items to their owners.
Mumbai Airport’s Lost & Found Department found that the unclaimed items primarily consisted of everyday belongings. These items included earphones, spectacles, and belts. They were meticulously safeguarded by CSMIA through robust tagging and storage systems to ensure their integrity and minimise any risk of damage or misplacement during the holding period. As for unclaimed valuables and electronic items, they were transferred to the Customs Department after 90 days.
Most Misplacement Observed At These Areas Of The Airport
Mumbai Airport’s Lost & Found Department systematically catalogues and stores all the lost items. High-value items like jewellery, Indian and foreign currencies, and electronic items make up about 30% of the lost items. They are secured under stringent protocols in designated lockers. Non-valuables, which made up 70% of misplaced items, were donated to NGOs after the stipulated holding period.
Airport authorities reported that passengers often misplace their belongings at security checkpoints, boarding gates, lounges, food courts, and arrival smoking lounges. They often end up leaving behind wallets, phones, passports, and wristwatches.
Have you ever forgotten anything at an airport while travelling? Let us know in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied & Canva (representative image)
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