As the country suffers from heatwaves, air traffic is also affected by the heat. An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Bagdogra was delayed for over four hours on Monday due to a technical problem caused by unusually high ground temperatures.

According to Delhi airport officials, flight 6E 2521, which was originally scheduled to depart at 2.10 p.m., finally took off at 6.15 p.m.

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A report in the Times of India quoted an airport official as saying that although all 165 passengers were on board the plane, there was a technical problem due to elevated ground temperatures, which left the plane stranded on the runway.

Since it was not possible to continue the journey, the aircraft was towed back to the parking lot for further inspection and repairs. After the delay, the flight was able to depart from Delhi airport for Bagdogra at 6:15 p.m.

In an official statement, IndiGo said, “IndiGo flight 6E 2521 between Delhi and Bagdogra was delayed due to high ground temperatures hampering operations. IndiGo's top priority is passenger safety and is taking steps to facilitate timely departure. Passengers are being updated regularly and we regret any inconvenience caused due to factors beyond the airline's control.”

Delay causes concern among passengers

According to CNBC, passengers also raised concerns about a malfunction in the onboard air conditioning system, and one passenger's health deteriorated due to a lack of oxygen.

Passengers claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that the crew refused to share information about the delay. Some passengers said their relatives were on the train that was involved in the accident near Darjeeling.

On Monday, at least nine people were killed and dozens injured in a collision between a freight train and a passenger train in West Bengal.

Sabyasachi De, spokesman for the Northeast Frontier Railway, confirmed that three of the dead were railway employees. Nearly 50 people were admitted to hospitals. According to De, the collision was caused by the driver of the goods train, who ignored a signal.

Heatwave in Delhi

Delhi is currently experiencing a prolonged spell of extreme heat as the capital continues to endure high temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued several alerts indicating the seriousness of the situation. A 'red' alert has been issued for Wednesday, predicting a rise in temperature of over 45 degrees Celsius.

According to the weather forecast, the heat wave is expected to last until Wednesday, with a slight easing expected on Thursday and Friday. The city is expected to be on “yellow” alert on Wednesday and Thursday, which will be changed to “green” on Friday and Saturday.