Heavy rain and thunderstorms battered Delhi-NCR on Friday, causing widespread waterlogging and disrupting air travel at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI).
At least nine flights were diverted from Delhi Airport between around 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm because of adverse weather conditions. Four flights were diverted to Jaipur, four to Lucknow and one to Ahmedabad, according to officials.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Heavy rain disrupts airport and road traffic.
Location: IGI Airport and Delhi-NCR.
Authority/Organisation: DIAL and IMD.
Action Taken: Flights diverted and airport water accumulation cleared.
Impact: Air travel and city traffic significantly disrupted.
Waterlogging was reported at the approach roads and forecourt areas of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at IGI Airport following the intense rainfall.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates IGI Airport, said the airport received heavy rainfall during the afternoon and water accumulated in the approach road and forecourt areas. The airport operator said the accumulated water was cleared within some time.
The severe weather also affected overall flight operations. More than 400 flights were delayed at Delhi Airport on Friday, according to flight-tracking data cited by PTI.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The disruption at IGI Airport affects one of India's busiest aviation hubs, while continued rainfall could create further delays for passengers and traffic congestion across Delhi-NCR.
The disruption came as dark clouds covered large parts of the national capital and heavy showers triggered waterlogging across several areas of Delhi-NCR.
The India Meteorological Department had warned of intense rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds. The weather conditions prompted authorities and airlines to advise passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.
The disruption at IGI Airport is significant because it is India's busiest airport and handles a large volume of domestic and international traffic every day.
Airlines operating from Delhi also issued travel advisories amid the weather disruption, asking passengers to allow additional travel time because waterlogging and traffic congestion were affecting road access to the airport.
The rainfall also caused major traffic disruptions in several parts of the capital, with water accumulating on roads and creating congestion during the evening rush.
The weather department has warned that further rainfall and thunderstorms could affect Delhi into Saturday. The latest weather conditions therefore remain important for both commuters and air passengers travelling through the national capital.
