Flight operations at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi were once again severely disrupted on Tuesday due to dense fog and poor visibility, leading to delays and diversions of several flights and causing inconvenience to passengers.
The adverse weather conditions had the maximum impact on incoming flights to Ranchi. An IndiGo flight from Pune to Ranchi was diverted to Bhubaneswar, while another IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Ranchi was rerouted to Kolkata as both aircraft were unable to land at the airport at their scheduled time. Flights arriving from Delhi also reported significant delays.
As a result of the delays and diversions, passengers were forced to wait for several hours inside the terminal building. Many were seen sitting with their families, repeatedly seeking updates on their flight status. While some flights arrived much later than scheduled, others continued to face uncertainty until late evening.
According to the Meteorological Department, dense fog has reduced visibility below standard levels in many parts of the country, including North India. Under such conditions, pilots require additional time for safe landings, and in several cases, aircraft were diverted to alternate airports in the interest of safety. This directly impacted flight operations to and from Ranchi.
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The disruption was not limited to Tuesday. Flight services at Birsa Munda Airport were also affected on Monday, with several flights arriving six to seven hours behind schedule. The second consecutive day of disruption has further added to passenger inconvenience.
Airport authorities and airlines have advised passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport. Flight operations are expected to return to normal once weather conditions improve.