Rain, hail disrupt Delhi airport flights

• Heavy rain and hailstorms in Delhi disrupted airport operations
• Over 500 flights delayed and 10 cancelled due to weather and tension
• IMD predicts more thundery activity and rising temperatures soon

A sudden spell of heavy rain and hailstorm disrupted normal life in Delhi on Tuesday, severely affecting flight operations at Indira Gandhi International

Airport. Over 500 flights were delayed, while several were diverted or cancelled, creating chaos for passengers. According to officials, at least 10 flights were cancelled, and five were diverted to nearby airports due to adverse weather conditions. Areas around the airport, such as Dwarka, Palam, and Najafgarh, witnessed heavy showers and hail, leading to disruptions during the peak afternoon hours. “Five flights were diverted between 2 pm and 3.30 pm as gusty winds, rain and hail were recorded around the airport. Some flights were delayed, too,” said an airport official as quoted by HT. Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 showed widespread delays across arrivals and departures, with an average delay of around 30 minutes.

Middle East Situation Adds To Flight Cancellations

Apart from the weather, ongoing tensions in West Asia also contributed to cancellations at Delhi airport. Flights to and from cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Baghdad were affected.

The official also said 10 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport to and from airports in West Asia since 11 pm on May 4. “This included six flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Baghdad to Delhi and four flights from Delhi to these locations,” the official told HT.

The airport authorities also issued a public advisory on social media, urging passengers to stay updated. “Flight operations may be impacted due to a hailstorm near Delhi airport, which could result in delays or short-term disruptions,” it said.

IMD Forecast More Thunder Activity, Heat To Rise Soon

The India Meteorological Department said that no colour-coded alert has been issued for Wednesday, but thundery development is likely in the evening due to an active western disturbance.

Weather data showed that Delhi recorded 4.6 mm rainfall at Safdarjung and up to 9.8 mm at Palam during the day. Wind speeds reached up to 39 km per hour in some areas.

The maximum temperature on Tuesday stood at 33.6°C, which is six degrees above normal. The IMD has predicted that temperatures will begin rising from Thursday, likely reaching 35 to 37°C and possibly touching 40°C by Sunday. Night temperatures are also expected to increase gradually by the weekend.