Categories
New Delhi, April — A powerful dust storm swept through the national capital on Friday evening, triggering widespread chaos at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The storm disrupted air travel significantly, causing delays for more than 200 flights and leaving passengers stranded for hours.
According to airport authorities, at least 205 flights were delayed, with several departures facing over an hour’s delay due to poor visibility and strong winds. The storm, which rolled in around 6 PM, also forced some inbound flights to be diverted to nearby airports, including Jaipur and Lucknow. Delhi
“The dust storm drastically reduced visibility on the runways, and as a safety precaution, air traffic was temporarily slowed,” an airport official said. “The backlog from the disruption led to cascading delays well into the night.”
Passengers at the airport described the situation as chaotic. Long queues, lack of timely updates, and packed terminals added to the frustration of travelers, many of whom were heading home or beginning their weekend holidays. Delhi
“I was supposed to fly to Mumbai at 7:30 PM, but we boarded almost two hours late,” said Priya Sharma, a frequent flyer. “There were no clear announcements, and everyone was just waiting around confused.”
Meteorologists reported that the sudden dust storm was the result of a weather disturbance over northwestern India, bringing gusty winds, dust, and a brief temperature drop. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning earlier in the day about possible dust storms and light rain in the region. Delhi
The weather system is expected to settle by Saturday, but airport operations may continue to face residual delays as airlines work to normalize schedules.
Travelers have been advised to check flight statuses before heading to the airport and to expect possible delays throughout the day.
Also Read : Mystery Witness Set to Testify Against Tahawwur Rana in 26/11 Attacks Case
