The Chennai International Airport faced significant disruptions on Monday morning, with several flights being delayed and canceled due to thick smoke caused by the burning of old clothes, tyres, and other materials during the Bhogi festival celebrations. As the city celebrated the traditional festival, a thick blanket of smoke reduced visibility, making flight operations dangerous.
Three Indigo flights arriving from Delhi and Bengaluru were canceled, and the schedules of 30 other flights were modified as a precaution. Affected flights included domestic routes to destinations such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Goa, as well as international flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, and Singapore.
The burning of items during Bhogi, a festival marking the beginning of the Pongal celebrations, is a widespread tradition in Chennai. However, this practice has caused recurring disruptions at the airport for several years. The thick smoke that enveloped the area made it difficult for pilots to operate safely, leading to rescheduling and diversions. Officials at Chennai airport closely monitored the situation, warning that they may divert incoming flights to alternative airports should visibility conditions worsen.
Airlines, including international carriers like Oman Air, Etihad, and AirAsia, have made adjustments to their schedules in anticipation of poor visibility. AirAsia, which operates flights between Chennai and Kuala Lumpur, rescheduled its flights until January 15. The arrival time for flights from Kuala Lumpur, originally scheduled for 7:25 a.m., has been delayed to 9:35 a.m., while departures have been moved from 8:05 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Despite efforts by local authorities and airport officials to raise awareness and reduce the impact of such celebrations, this problem persists. In 2018, as many as 118 flights were affected due to similar conditions, but the number of disruptions has gradually reduced. In 2024, only 51 flights were impacted, showing progress in mitigating the issue.
The ongoing smoke also caused a sharp decline in air quality in the city, with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) warning of further pollution levels rising in the coming hours. Although mild rain since midnight helped reduce pollution slightly, it remains a challenge during the Bhogi festival, and the TNPCB is closely monitoring the air quality at multiple locations across Chennai for the next 24 hours.
The situation on Monday underscores the difficulties caused by the festival’s traditional practices, with flight disruptions serving as a reminder of the need for continued cooperation between civic authorities, communities, and airport officials to ensure safety and minimize disruptions in the future.
Sources By Agencies
