Kochi: With the Kochi airport continuing to stay marooned in the rising waters of Periyar River, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Thursday evening temporarily suspended the operations till August 26, 2pm.

The runways and tarmac of the airport are still waterlogged. The authorities had hinted ealier the day that the operations may not resume as expected earlier as the Periyar continued to be in spate. The open shutters of the Cheruthoni and Idamalayar dams have sent the river into a deadly spate which has been continuing for the last few days.

On Wednesday, the airport operations were shut down till Saturday afternoon. CIAL authorities are left with few options to push for a reopening as it remains impractical to pump the water out of the airport premises since the entire area is waterlogged.

A section of the solar plant near the cargo terminal in the solar-powered airport was submerged in the incessant rain.

Meanwhile, talks are on between the centre and the state on allowing civilian flight operations from the Naval Base at Kochi.