Mumbai airport update: Around 400 flights affected as Cyclone Vayu approaches Gujarat

In the wake of to bad weather caused by cycle Vayu which hit Gujarat coast, Air traffic in neighbouring Mumbai was also affected as passengers to and from the megapolis confronted a tough time today. Nearly 400 flights were affected due to bad weather caused by the cycle, an airport official told PTI, adding that as many as 194 departing flights and 192 arrivals were delayed in the wake of bad weather.

The Mumbai airport is one of the busiest in the country handling over 900 aircraft movements daily. At least two flights were diverted from the city, the official reportedly said, adding that operations at ports and airports in these regions have been suspended as precautionary measure.

Notably, the approaching cyclone has forced the Gujarat government to evacuate as many as 1.6 lakh people from the coastal areas of the low-lying areas of Saurashtra and the Kutch regions. The cyclone is expected to make a landfall Thursday.

As per the latest weather report, cyclone Vayu, which has turned into a 'very severe cyclonic storm', has changed its course slightly and would now hit Gujarat coast anywhere between Veraval in the south and Dwarka in the west in Thursday afternoon, officials said, adding the cyclone is now situated around 280 km south of Veraval.

Meanwhile, a dust storm and light rain brought mercury down by 10 degrees in the national capital, giving much-needed relief to Delhiites from intense heat, but it also affected flight operations at the Delhi International Airport for around 35 minutes on Wednesday evening. 

"The dust storm hit the Delhi airport at 6.39 pm today. The last flight arrival at the Delhi airport was at 6.36 pm. The last departure at the airport was at 6.38 pm," airport officials told PTI. Till 7.15 pm, total nine flights were diverted from the airport, they said, adding "The airport resumed flight operations at 7.15 pm." 

The officials reportedly stated that total 27 flights were diverted from the Delhi airport till 7.50 pm in the wake of a severe dust storm that hit several parts of the national capital on Wednesday evening, following which a thick haze was hanging over the city, affecting visibility.