Key Highlights
- Severe dust storm disrupts flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, affecting over 200 flights.
- More than 50 flights delayed, 25 diverted, and seven canceled between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
- Passengers face chaos and overcrowding at Terminal 3, with reports of mismanagement by airlines.
- Social media flooded with complaints about lack of updates, poor treatment by airline staff, and inadequate facilities.
- IMD issues a red alert for thunderstorms and gusty winds in Delhi-NCR.
New Delhi: A powerful dust storm that swept through Delhi-NCR on Friday evening caused massive disruptions at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. The storm, accompanied by gusty winds, brought flight operations to a near standstill, triggering delays, diversions, and cancellations that extended into Saturday morning.
Impact on Flight Operations
According to airport sources:
- Over 50 flights were delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
- 25 flights were diverted to alternate airports like Chandigarh and Jaipur.
- Seven flights were canceled entirely.
Passengers reported waiting for hours without clear communication from airlines. The delays also caused a ripple effect, leading to overcrowding at boarding gates as diverted flights returned to Delhi late into the night.
Passenger Ordeal: Mismanagement Sparks Outrage
The disruption led to chaotic scenes at Terminal 3 of IGI Airport. Passengers took to social media to express their frustration:
- One user described the situation as a “stampede-like” scenario and criticized the lack of updates on flight schedules.
- Another passenger shared their ordeal of being stranded for over 10 hours without basic amenities like water or food. “Infants, pregnant women, and elderly passengers were left unattended,” tweeted Dr. H.Y. Desai.
Several passengers accused airline staff of being unresponsive and unhelpful. A viral video showed overcrowded boarding areas with no visible efforts to manage the crowd.
Airlines Respond Amid Criticism
Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo issued advisories acknowledging the disruptions:
- Air India stated that adverse weather conditions had impacted flight schedules and assured passengers that ground teams were working to resolve issues.
- IndiGo highlighted “airside congestion” as a contributing factor to delays and advised passengers to check flight statuses regularly.
However, these responses did little to pacify stranded travelers, many of whom demanded better contingency planning for such situations.
Weather Warnings and Future Outlook
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for thunderstorms and gusty winds in Delhi-NCR on Friday. This marked the second dust storm in two days, signaling the onset of a Western Disturbance. While the storm brought temporary relief from soaring temperatures, it also caused widespread disruptions:
- Fallen tree branches damaged power lines in parts of North Delhi.
- IMD predicts more thunderstorms in the coming days but warns that heatwave conditions could return by April 15.
Calls for Better Emergency Preparedness
The incident has raised serious concerns about emergency preparedness at one of India’s busiest airports. Experts have called for:
- Improved communication channels between airlines and passengers during disruptions.
- Better crowd management strategies at terminals.
- Enhanced coordination between airport authorities and meteorological agencies.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Airlines and Authorities
The dust storm chaos at IGI Airport highlights the urgent need for robust contingency plans to handle extreme weather events. While airlines have cited weather conditions as an unavoidable factor, passengers argue that better management could have mitigated the ordeal.
As Delhi braces for more unpredictable weather patterns this season, authorities must step up efforts to ensure smoother operations and passenger safety during such disruptions.
