Monsoon Mayhem in Delhi: 15 Flights Diverted Amid Torrential Rain
Intense rainfall battered Delhi and the
surrounding NCR region on Tuesday, leading to serious disruption in air and
road traffic. At least 15 flights
bound to or from Indira Gandhi
International Airport (IGIA) were diverted to alternate airports,
while roadways across the city turned chaotic under waterlogging and reduced
visibility.
The Flight Diversions: Where Did They Go?
Airport authorities reported that out of the 15
diverted flights:
·
8 flights
were sent to Jaipur
·
5 flights
were diverted to Lucknow
·
2 flights
landed in Chandigarh
The diversions came as a result of heavy
downpours, low visibility, and storm conditions making safe landing at Delhi
difficult.
In parallel, airlines such as IndiGo and Air India issued advisories asking travellers to check
their flight status in real time.
Weather Woes: IMD Alerts and Causes
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had
issued an orange alert for most
parts of Delhi, with yellow alert
for areas in west and south Delhi. Winds,
thunderstorms, and lightning were also anticipated across adjacent zones.
Meteorologists attribute the heavy rainfall to
a western disturbance sweeping
across North India, bringing in moisture and instability.
On the Ground: Streets Paralyzed, Visibility Plunges
Delhi’s streets bore the brunt of the
downpour. Many arterial routes— including stretches between Moti Bagh to AIIMS,
Dwarka Expressway, and Old Rohtak Road—were choked with bumper‑to‑bumper
traffic and deep waterlogging.
In one instance, visibility at Palam
Airport dropped drastically from 6,000 m in the early afternoon to a
mere 1,200 m by evening — a factor contributing heavily to flight rerouting
decisions.
Commuters took to social media platforms like
X to flag clogged roads, stalled vehicles and appeals for urgent traffic
relief.
What Passengers Must Do Now
·
Confirm
your flight status before leaving for the airport. Airlines have
warned of potential delays or changes.
·
Plan extra
travel time — both to navigate through congested city roads and to
accommodate check‑ins or rebookings.
·
Stay
updated on weather alerts via IMD bulletins or trusted news sources.
·
Contact
your airline if your flight is cancelled or diverted; they may provide
assistance or alternate routing.
Longer‑Term Challenges & Takeaways
Today’s chaos is symptomatic of a broader
stress test on Delhi’s infrastructure in the face of extreme weather. Airports,
under heavy rainfall and low visibility, struggle to manage traffic flow. Road
networks get overwhelmed by water accumulation and drainage shortfalls.
The frequency and intensity of such events are expected to rise as climate patterns shift, demanding robust emergency planning, resilient infrastructure, and agile operational protocols across aviation, urban transport, and meteorological agencies.
