Severe Storm Hits Delhi: 49 Flights Diverted, 200 Delayed Amid Heavy Rain and Winds

A powerful thunderstorm that swept through Delhi late Saturday night brought flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport to a standstill, causing major disruptions. Heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning led to the diversion of 49 flights—17 of them international—and delayed nearly 200 others into the early hours of Sunday.

The storm struck around 10:30 PM and intensified through the night, with conditions remaining severe until early Sunday morning. According to FlightRadar24 data, most delays averaged about 45 minutes as aircraft were unable to land or take off safely.

Between 11:30 PM and 4:00 AM, the weather forced dozens of planes to be rerouted to other airports. Flight operations were hit hard by high winds and lightning, which made it unsafe for ground and air crews to proceed with normal schedules.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded wind gusts up to 82 km/h and 81.2 mm of rain within just six hours. A red alert was issued Saturday night for Delhi and surrounding areas, warning residents of intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

The severe weather also caused significant issues across the city. Trees were uprooted, power outages were reported in several neighborhoods, and many roads—including those near Terminal 1 of the airport—were submerged in water. Minto Road, Delhi Cantonment, and Dhaula Kuan saw heavy waterlogging, with vehicles struggling to move through the flooded streets.

IndiGo airlines heavily affected, kept passengers updated through posts on X (formerly Twitter). At 3:59 AM, the airline acknowledged ongoing delays but said operations were gradually resuming. By 5:54 AM, they confirmed that flights were back on schedule.

Delhi Airport issued a public advisory at 6:50 AM, acknowledging the disruptions and advising travelers to check their flight status regularly. “Our on-ground teams are working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth experience for passengers,” the advisory read.

IGI Airport, the country’s busiest, handles a large volume of both domestic and international traffic. While skies eventually cleared Sunday morning, the overnight storm served as a stark reminder of how vulnerable critical infrastructure can be during extreme weather.