Heavy rain and a sudden squall significantly affected operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday afternoon, leading to the diversion of nine flights. The adverse weather conditions were reported between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm, as strong winds reaching up to 76 kmph caused substantial disruption at the airport complex.

According to sources, four flights were redirected to Jaipur, four to Lucknow, and one to Ahmedabad. The flights diverted to Lucknow comprised Akasa Air’s Bengaluru-Delhi service, along with three Air India flights arriving from Ludhiana, Indore, and Hyderabad. Water accumulation at the airport’s approach road and forecourt further aggravated the situation.

In a statement, Delhi Airport confirmed that the accumulated water was cleared shortly after and shared a video showing the area. The authorities emphasised their commitment to providing a safe and seamless experience for all passengers while operations resumed.

Squall Recorded at Palam Airport

The India Meteorological Department documented a squall at Palam Airport from 3.37 pm to 3.39 pm. This abrupt increase in wind speed, characteristic of squalls, is often linked with thunderstorms and can lead to rapidly changing conditions during aircraft take-off and landing. During the two-minute event, wind speeds reached 76 kmph and visibility dropped to 600 metres.

Additional meteorological data indicated a rise in humidity from 86 per cent to 90 per cent, as the temperature fell slightly from 26 degrees Celsius to 25.5 degrees Celsius. The Palam area received 7 mm of rain during the squall, contributing to the heavier rainfall recorded in the region.

Palam witnessed 72.2 mm of rainfall between 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm, marking the highest total in Delhi during that period according to the Regional Meteorological Centre. Other areas recorded varying amounts of rainfall, with Naraina at 54 mm, Janakpuri at 48.5 mm, and Lodhi Road at 34.6 mm. No major incidents of traffic congestion or waterlogging were reported on the arterial roads at that time.

Continued Rain Forecast through Saturday

The India Meteorological Department issued a red warning for heavy rainfall across parts of Delhi-NCR on Friday, forecasting thunderstorms and lightning. The unsettled weather pattern is expected to persist into Saturday, with a likelihood of heavy rain impacting the Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi region.

Additionally, West Uttar Pradesh, including some parts of the National Capital Region, is also under a heavy-rain warning for both Friday and Saturday. The intensity of rainfall is anticipated to decrease from Sunday onwards. While light rain or drizzle may continue, the IMD has not issued any further heavy-rain warnings for Delhi from September 6 onwards.

Residents are advised to remain cautious as the weather conditions may lead to further disruptions. Continuous monitoring and updates from relevant authorities will be crucial as the situation evolves in the coming days.

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