IMD rain alert for Delhi-NCR, Punjab, HP raises flight-disruption risk

The India Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain warning for Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab and Uttarakhand for Saturday, August 22.

The IMD forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall over Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, with thunderstorms expected across Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi itself is forecast to see a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of very light to light rain at many places, and moderate rain at isolated locations through the day.

Conditions of this kind, combining sustained rainfall with reduced visibility around the Delhi-NCR region, have repeatedly prompted airlines operating out of Indira Gandhi International Airport to issue passenger advisories warning of possible delays during this year’s monsoon season.

Airlines have typically responded to similar spells by advising passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport and to allow extra travel time, given the potential for air traffic control-driven delays during heavy rain.

The IMD’s warning remains in effect for Saturday, with the wider weather system also bringing rain to several other northern and eastern states through the day.

Airlines including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have previously cited a combination of low cloud cover, gusty winds and lightning activity as factors that can force temporary holds on takeoffs and landings at busy hubs like Delhi.

Passengers travelling through affected regions today have been encouraged to monitor their airline’s official app or website rather than relying solely on scheduled departure times printed on their tickets.

Ground handling teams at major airports typically remain on standby during such alerts to manage passenger queries and rebook travellers affected by weather-related schedule changes.

The current spell of rain follows a broader pattern this monsoon season, in which Delhi-NCR has already seen multiple rounds of IMD alerts accompanied by airline advisories warning of possible delays.

Airport authorities have said flight operations generally remain normal even during active weather warnings, though individual flights can still be affected depending on the intensity of rain or wind at the exact time of takeoff or landing.

Travellers connecting through Delhi to other cities have been advised to build in extra buffer time between flights, given the possibility of knock-on delays if an earlier weather-affected flight runs late.

Photo by Ravi Dwivedi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0