Heavy rainfall in Delhi affected flight operations in and out of the city late on Wednesday. IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet were among the first to provide information and advice to their customers. Here’s what they said:
Air India
In its travel advisory issued at around 8pm, Air India said: “Heavy rain and thunderstorms may affect flight operations to/from Delhi this evening.”
Airlines ask flyers to check their flight status here – before heading to the airport.
He also advised them to allow more time for their journey due to potential traffic jams. “Our airport teams are always available to provide support and assistance. Thank you for your understanding,” Air India said.
Indigo
In a series of posts in X, Indigo has alerted flyers to the disruption of flights to and from Delhi and Bengaluru due to “bad weather”.
IndiGo said, “Heavy rain showers have settled over Delhi and roads are feeling the impact. Traffic is slow on several routes towards the airport due to continuous downpour.”
“If you’re flying today, plan ahead, depart a little earlier and check your flight status on our app or website before you disembark,” the airline added.
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It said: “We understand that these conditions may affect your journey. Our teams are ready to support you on the ground and are working to keep operations as stable as possible. Thank you for your understanding.”
In another post, X IndiGo said, “Bad weather over #Bangalore has affected flight schedules. We are monitoring the weather closely and doing our best to get you where you need to go safely and smoothly.”
“We request that you stay updated on your flight status through our website or app. Please rest assured that our teams are here to help you every step of the way and provide full support,” IndiGo wrote.
He added: “We look forward to clearer skies and a quick return to our regular schedule. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
SpiceJet
SpiceJet also shared weather updates due to heavy rains and thunderstorms in Delhi NCR on Wednesday.
The airlines said, “Due to bad weather at Delhi (DEL), all departures/arrivals and their onward flights may be affected. Passengers are requested to check their flight status via http://spicejet.com/#status.”
Delhi weather update
Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy rains on Wednesday night. The rain was accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. At the same time, air quality remained in the “bad” category.
According to the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC), Delhi-NCR is expected to witness a shift in weather over the next 48 hours.
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For March 19, officials are predicting generally cloudy skies with initial periods of very light rain or drizzle, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in the morning, followed by one or two more periods of light rain in the afternoon and evening.
Strong surface winds of 30-40 km/h, with gusts of up to 50 km/h are also expected.
“While a slight rise in maximum temperatures of 1-2°C is expected over the next 24 hours, the Met Office is predicting a gradual and significant drop of 4-6°C over the next three days. Overall, maximum temperatures are expected to range between ‘below normal’ (-1.6°C to -3.0°C) and RMC ‘normal’ levels over the next week,” he said.
The weather advisory covers the entire NCR including satellite cities like Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. The forecast reflects the capital’s outlook: generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms likely until March 20.
The weather service issued a “yellow” warning for the areas and advised residents to watch out for lightning and gusty winds, especially in the evening.
“This change comes after a relatively warm spell for the capital. In the last 24 hours, maximum temperatures in Delhi have settled in the range of 32-34°C, which is around 1.6°C to 3.0°C above the seasonal normal at several places. Safdarjung, the city’s main meteorological station, recorded a high of 383.6°C, while other added minimums remained at 16°C.
(With input from agencies)
