A powerful dust storm followed by rain and hail swept through Delhi on Wednesday evening, leading to massive disruptions at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

Over 50 Flights Delayed, 10 Diverted

Officials reported that at least 10 flights were diverted to nearby airports, including Jaipur and Mumbai, while over 50 flights experienced delays between 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm. “At least 10 flights were diverted, mainly to Jaipur. One flight was also diverted to Mumbai,” said an airport official. The disruption was attributed to wind shear, a condition where strong winds blow in the opposite direction, making it difficult for flights to take off or land safely.

Temperature Plunges, Storm Peaks at 74 km/hr

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), wind speeds peaked at 74 km/hr around 8 pm. The Palam area witnessed a steep temperature drop from 37°C at 7:30 pm to 23°C by 8:30 pm. The IMD recorded rainfall totals of 12.1mm at Safdarjung, 2.1mm at Palam, 13.5mm at Mayur Vihar, and 5mm at Pitampura by 8:30 pm.

Aircraft Suffers Damage, Makes Emergency Landing

Amid the storm, a Delhi-to-Srinagar flight encountered turbulence and was forced to make an emergency landing at Srinagar airport around 6:30 pm. The aircraft, carrying more than 220 passengers, suffered damage to its nose, visuals of which later circulated online.

Airlines Issue Travel Alerts

Air India issued a travel advisory on X, urging passengers to check flight schedules and allow extra time to reach the airport. Indigo also reported weather-related delays in Delhi, Chandigarh, and Kolkata, asking passengers to monitor their flight status before departing for the airport.

IMD Had Forecast Thunderstorm Risk

The IMD had earlier predicted a hot and humid Wednesday with the likelihood of a dust storm and thunderstorm later in the day. Wind speeds were expected to touch 50 km/hr. A similar weather pattern is expected on Friday, with gusty winds likely to reach 50 km/hr. No storms are forecast for Thursday.

Cyclonic Circulation Triggered Intense Storm

IMD scientist Krishna Mishra attributed the severe weather to a cyclonic circulation over Haryana, which was part of an east-west trough stretching from Punjab to Bangladesh in the lower troposphere. “Moisture feed was taking place to this trough from both the Arabian Sea as well as the Bay of Bengal,” Mishra explained.

Trees Uprooted, Traffic Disrupted

The storm also caused several trees to fall, leading to major traffic snarls. A senior traffic police official said movement was heavily impacted on Mathura Road. “The carriageway from Neela Gumbad to Ashram was choked as a tree fell in the middle of the road. Another tree fell on Teen Murti Marg. Nobody was injured,” the officer confirmed.

The sudden storm not only disrupted flight operations but also brought an unexpected cooldown, traffic chaos, and public alerts, underlining the need for preparedness ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.