Airport workers walk out en masse

Thousands of airport staff began an indefinite strike at 127 airports across India yesterday, but flights from India's main cities of Mumbai and New Delhi were unaffected, according to airport officials.

About 14,000 union members are striking over the imminent closure of two airports in the southern cities of Hyderabad and Bangalore, both home to many of India's software and outsourcing companies, to make way for new facilities.

Strikers are mostly employed in airport support services, and include electricians, plumbers, cleaners, engineers and emergency fire support staff.