Heavy rains, low visibility hit Mumbai airport operations, 50 flights cancelled

MUMBAI: Heavy rains on Monday severely disrupted flights at Mumbai airport, leading to cancellation of 50 flights and suspension of runway operations for over an hour due to low visibility, sources said. IndiGo, a budget airline, had to cancel 42 flights, including 20 departures, while Air India cancelled six flights, including three arrivals.

“Fifty flights were cancelled till 11 am on Monday at Mumbai airport due to low visibility and heavy rain. Of these, IndiGo had to cancel 42 flights, including 20 departures, while six Air India flights, including three arrivals, were cancelled,” a source said.

Meanwhile, state-owned airline Alliance Air had to cancel two of its flights (one departing and one arriving) on Monday, the source added.

Sources had earlier reported that runway operations at the airport were suspended from 2:22 am to 3:40 am, leading to diversion of around 27 flights to nearby airports such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Indore.

According to an official, during the 24-hour period ending 8 am on Monday, the island city of Mumbai recorded an average rainfall of 115.63 mm, while the eastern and western parts of the city received 168.68 mm and 165.93 mm rainfall, respectively.

Govandi in east Mumbai recorded the highest rainfall at 315.6 mm, followed by Powai with 314.5 mm. In the western parts of the city, Malpa Dongri in Andheri received the highest rainfall at 292.2 mm, followed by Chakala with 278.2 mm. In the island city, Pratiksha Nagar received 220.2 mm rainfall, followed by Sewri Koliwada with 185.8 mm, the official added.