Over 50 domestic flights operating from the IGI Airport were delayed, about 25 flights were diverted and seven flights were cancelled, according to a TOI report.
Sources at the airport confirmed that there was a sudden spike in crowding at boarding gates late Friday night and early Saturday due to diverted and delayed flights landing at the same time. The rough weather also resulted in the injury of four people, officials confirmed.
Frustrated passengers took to social media, with many sharing visuals of overcrowded boarding gates and alleging mistreatment by airline staff.
One user posted on X, tagging the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India, saying, “@airindia @MoCA_GoI @JM_Scindia Most mismanaged, misinformed world class international airport, New Delhi. #INDIRAGandhi.. worse than bus stand.”
Air India replied: “Dear Mr. Lal, we hear you. However, kindly know that the flights are affected due to adverse effect of bad weather. Please be assured that our staff is trying to the best of their abilities to assist all passengers.”Another frustrated flyer shared a video captioned: “Passengers treated worse than cattles.”
Senior officials from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airport authorities were deployed to monitor the situation and address passenger grievances, officials said.
However, several passengers claimed the response was insufficient and uncoordinated.
“After the dust storm, many flights were diverted and cancelled, and this caused inconvenience to passengers waiting for their flights at Delhi airport. The diverted flight took time to reach Delhi, and this led to rush at the airport,” said a senior official.
IndiGo too faced the heat as multiple passengers complained about constant rescheduling of flights. One user posted:
As of 2 pm on Saturday, the Delhi Airport issued a statement saying flights operations are improving but a few flights continue to be impacted.
“Flight operations at Delhi Airport are improving; however, a few flights are still impacted due to last night’s weather conditions. Our on-ground teams and all stakeholders are working together to minimize any inconvenience to passengers,” Delhi Airport said in a post on X.
It further asked travellers to check flight status on the airport’s website or on the airline website. “Please check the flight status on our website and the respective airline websites for the latest updates.”
IndiGo also issued a statement, requesting passengers to wait while flying to and from Delhi due to heavy air traffic.
Dust storm in Delhi
Delhi-NCR witnessed a strong dust storm on Friday, which led to widespread disruptions. Several trees were uprooted across the region, causing traffic jams and power outages. An electric pole collapsed at ITO, and thunderstorms caused power outages in multiple parts of the capital, primarily due to trees and branches falling on overhead power lines.
Authorities were flooded with distress calls about fallen trees. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) received eight complaints from areas including Connaught Place, Jor Bagh, Patel Marg, and Sardar Patel Marg.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reported four such incidents from New Delhi, Kalkaji, and Shahdara between 6 pm and 8 pm.
The Public Works Department (PWD) received 10 complaints, while the fire department responded to two calls related to tree falls.
Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) confirmed that areas including Narela, Bawana, Badli, and Mangolpuri faced localised power supply issues. Disruptions were also observed in both high-tension and low-tension electricity networks.
The sudden change in weather resulted in significant dip in temperature. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the temperature at Palam plummeted by 10°C, while Safdarjung saw a 7°C drop.
The IMD recorded wind speeds of up to 74 kmph at IGI Airport, 70 kmph at Pragati Maidan, and 69 kmph at Lodhi Road. Other areas like Najafgarh and Safdarjung reported gusts between 37 and 56 kmph.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for the region, urging residents to stay indoors, secure doors and windows, and avoid unnecessary travel.
