Chennai: Cyclonic storms Ditwah has unleashed widespread disruption across Tamil Nadu, leading to the cancellation of 54 flights at Chennai International Airport and triggering a shutdown of educational institutions in multiple districts. The cyclonic weather system intensifying over the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Sri Lanka, have prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for various districts today.
The operational turmoil at Chennai airport is significant. Airport authorities, heeding warnings of severe weather and heavy rainfall from Cyclone Ditwah, proactively grounded a total of 54 flights scheduled from this morning through the night. The cancellations have severely impacted both domestic and regional connectivity, affecting air travel to and from key cities including Madurai, Trichy, Thoothukudi, Salem, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Jaffna in Sri Lanka.
Chennai Airport cancels 54 flights as Cyclone Ditwah triggers Red Alert in Tamil Nadu
In an official advisory, Chennai airport officials stated, “Currently, 54 flights have been cancelled and more flights are likely to be cancelled if the weather deteriorates further.” They strongly urged passengers to check their flight status directly with airlines before arriving at the terminals to avoid inconvenience.
Parallel to the travel chaos, the state administration has taken extensive precautionary measures to ensure public safety. Holidays have been declared for schools and colleges in eight districts, while a more targeted holiday has been announced for schools in four other districts. Further disrupting academic schedules, examinations scheduled in several colleges across the affected regions have been cancelled.