IBNS-CMEDIA: Heavy rain and hail lashed Delhi and adjoining areas on Wednesday evening, leading to major disruption in flight operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
At least nine flights were diverted, while airlines issued advisories warning passengers of delays and extended waiting times.
Flights diverted as visibility drops at IGI Airport
Due to sudden adverse weather conditions, several flights bound for Delhi were diverted to Jaipur International Airport.
The affected flights included IndiGo services (IX 5256, 6E 851, 6E 710, 6E 6613, 6E 6183, 6E 698, 3U 9651) and Air India flights (AI 2890, AI 2910).
Authorities at Jaipur airport made arrangements to accommodate passengers arriving on diverted flights as operations in Delhi were temporarily impacted by thunderstorms and strong winds.
Airlines issue advisories, expect delays
IndiGo issued a travel advisory on social media, stating that adverse weather conditions had affected operations in Delhi and warning passengers of extended waiting times both on the ground and onboard.
Air India also advised travellers to check updated flight status before heading to the airport, noting that weather disruptions could impact arrivals and departures from the national capital.
IMD issues orange alert for thunderstorms and hail
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for Delhi-NCR, forecasting light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and gusty winds reaching up to 60 kmph in several parts of the city.
Despite the disruption, temperatures in Delhi remained slightly below normal, with Safdarjung recording a maximum of 39.2°C. The weather office has predicted partly cloudy skies for the following day.
