- विज्ञापन -
Chennai: The Chennai airport experienced the cancellation of three Indigo flights arriving from Delhi and Bengaluru on Monday morning due to poor visibility caused by smoke from burning old clothes and tyres, a common practice during the Bhogi festival.
In addition to these cancellations, the schedules for 30 other flights have been modified as a precaution. Affected flights include those to and from various destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Andaman, Goa, Pune, and Kolkata.
The smoke from Bhogi celebrations has created a thick haze over Chennai, including the airport, significantly hampering visibility and making flight operations challenging and unsafe. Passengers have been informed of the schedule changes through text messages.
Airport officials are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to divert incoming flights to alternate airports if the smoke worsens.
Historically, Chennai airport has faced disruptions during the Bhogi festival. For instance, in 2018, 118 flights were affected, while in 2024, only 51 flights experienced disruptions. This year, airlines anticipated visibility issues during the Bhogi morning and rescheduled early flights accordingly.
International airlines, including Oman Air, Etihad, and AirAsia, have adjusted their schedules. AirAsia, which operates flights between Chennai and Kuala Lumpur, has rescheduled its flights for three days, extending until January 15. The flight from Kuala Lumpur, originally due to arrive at 7:25 a.m., will now land at 9:35 a.m., with the departure time shifted from 8:05 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on those days. An AirAsia spokesperson confirmed these changes were made to ensure safe landings amid the smog.
Despite efforts to raise awareness among local communities about the dangers of burning waste, flight disruptions due to Bhogi smoke remain a recurring issue. However, the frequency of such incidents has decreased over the years, thanks to measures implemented by civic authorities and police. Officials noted that only a limited number of pilots are trained to operate in visibility conditions below 400 meters, which contributes to the necessity for flight cancellations and rescheduling.
On Monday morning, air quality in Chennai deteriorated significantly as Bhogi smoke enveloped the city, causing visibility problems for drivers and making it difficult for residents to breathe. Mild rain since midnight has slightly improved air quality, but the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has warned that pollution levels may rise in the coming hours. The TNPCB is monitoring air quality across 15 locations in Chennai for 24 hours surrounding the Bhogi festival.
