The ripple effects of a powerful dust storm that battered Delhi and its neighboring regions on Friday evening plunged Indira Gandhi International Airport into disarray, leaving countless passengers stranded and facing extensive flight disruptions. The turmoil extended into Saturday morning as airlines struggled to recover from the weather-induced chaos.
At least 205 flights were experiencing delays and approximately 50 forced to divert from their scheduled landings, NDTV reported, citing sources.
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The intense dust storm, which followed a similar weather event the previous day, not only reduced visibility but also caused physical damage across the city, including downed trees and power outages. This created a logistical nightmare for airport operations as diverted flights eventually returned to Delhi, leading to overcrowding and extended waiting times for passengers.
Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo issued advisories acknowledging the widespread delays and diversions, urging passengers to constantly monitor their flight statuses.
"Please expect a wait while flying to/from Delhi due to the ongoing air traffic congestion. We'll get you moving as soon as we receive the final nod. Check your flight status here," IndiGo posted on social media platform X.
Delhi Airport authorities also released a statement acknowledging the impact of the inclement weather conditions and advising passengers to liaise directly with their airlines for the most up-to-date information.
Adding to the travel woes, the India Meteorological Department issued an 'orange' alert for Saturday, forecasting further thunderstorms and lightning in Delhi.
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