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Vehicles wade through a waterlogged road following rains in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rains overnight in New Delhi disrupted air travel, forcing the diversion of dozens of flights and causing widespread delays into Sunday morning.
Between 11.30 pm and 4 am, at least 49 flights — including 17 international carriers — were diverted from Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to airport officials.
By mid-morning Sunday, 227 departures had been delayed, with an average wait time of 28 minutes, according to the real-time flight tracking service Flightradar24.
“Due to adverse weather conditions last night, some flights have been impacted,” Delhi Airport said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) at 6.50 am. “Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience.”
In anticipation of the storm, airport authorities had issued a weather alert at approximately 10.30 pm Saturday, warning travellers of potential disruptions and advising them to consider alternative modes of transport, including the Delhi Metro, to avoid traffic congestion caused by waterlogging.
Vehicles partially submerged following at the Delhi Cantt underpass. (Photo: PTI)
Airlines also posted alerts as they grappled with the operational fallout from the overnight storm. “Last night’s adverse weather in Delhi continues to affect operations due to airside congestion,” IndiGo, India’s largest airline, said on X at 8.08 am. “While conditions have improved, delays in departures, arrivals, and ground handling may persist.”
The carrier advised passengers to travel with added buffer time, warning that roads to the airport could be affected by flooding. “We sincerely appreciate your patience and continued support as we work diligently to get you safely to your destination,” IndiGo added.
Air India said that weather-related disruptions extended beyond Delhi and were affecting operations across northern India. “Some flights to and from our Delhi hub had to be diverted,” the airline said. “This may result in a cascading effect on our flight schedules throughout the day. While we are making every effort to minimise the disruption, we request our guests to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.”
