Cyclone Michaung: Flight operations suspended in Chennai till 11 p.m., disrupted in Hyderabad, Visakhapathnam

The flight operations have been disrupted in Chennai, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam while 40 trains from to and from Kerala have been cancelled on Monday in view of the cyclone Michaung.

The arrival and departure of flights at Chennai airport has been suspended for two hours due to heavy rains and winds on Monday, December 4, 2023. Officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said, the airfield will be shut for arrival operations till 11.30 p.m. on Monday.

Ten flights were diverted and many flights were cancelled at the airport since Sunday (December 3) night due to strong winds and downpours caused by Cyclone Michuang. Sources said, there is quite a bit of waterlogging in some of the taxiways.

Due to heavy rains in Chennai, triggered by cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’, around 11 flights have been diverted to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Monday, December 4. The Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) officials said that both domestic and international flights which were scheduled to land in Chennai were diverted to the KIA.

IndiGo has cancelled its ATR flights from Visakhapatnam – Tirupati, Tirupati – Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada – Vizag and Vizag – Vijayawada.

IndiGo has also cancelled its bigger flights (A 320) Chennai – Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam – Chennai and Visakhapatnam – Hyderabad flight (scheduled to leave at 3.55 p.m.)

Other bigger flights operating from Visakhapatnam airport are operating normally, at present,” Airport Director Raja Reddy told The Hindu, when contacted on Monday morning.

Severe disruptions were experienced at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) as a result of bad weather and heavy rains in Chennai, attributed to the cyclonic storm named ‘Michaung.’ As many as four flights were affected by the adverse conditions.

Officials from GMR Hyderabad International Airport acknowledged the current situation and expressed concerns about potential escalation as the cyclone intensifies. They anticipate further delays and diversions throughout the day.