Rain-Triggered Leak Disrupts Bengaluru Airport Operations
The adverse weather conditions not only resulted in water leakage but also forced the diversion of several flights.
Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport faced challenges last night due to heavy rainfall. Water leaked through the roof near the conveyor belt area, causing inconvenience to passengers and disrupting normal activities, as seen in videos posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
The adverse weather conditions not only resulted in water leakage, but also forced the diversion of several flights. Bengaluru International Airport Ltd., the entity that operates Kempegowda International Airport, reported that the airport was rendered inaccessible for landings between 9.35 p.m. and 10.29 p.m. on Thursday due to heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.
As a consequence of the weather disruption, a total of 17 flights had to be diverted to Chennai. Among these, 13 were domestic flights, while three were international passenger flights, and one was an international cargo flight. The unexpected diversions led to temporary inconveniences for passengers, BIAL said in a statement.
BIAL assured that necessary measures are being taken to address the water leakage issue and minimise disruptions to airport operations. Passengers are advised to stay updated with flight schedules and any announcements from airlines regarding rescheduled or delayed flights, it said.
The city has been receiving rain for the past four days. According to the India Meteorological Department, Bengaluru city received 14 mm rain in the 24-hour period till 8.30 a.m. on Friday.
Signifying the airport's importance, during the financial year 2024, the airport recorded an increase in air traffic movements, totaling 2,45,880 ATMs. Domestic ATMs witnessed 10% growth, while international ATMs showed a 13% increase as compared with the previous fiscal.
In the same fiscal, a total of 37.53 million passengers travelled through the airport terminals, while 4,39,524 metric tonne of cargo passed through the airport, marking the highest-ever annual figures for both passenger traffic and cargo volume.
(With inputs from PTI)
