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How Pongal Pageant Smoke Causes Flight Cancellations and Poor Visibility at Chennai Airport?
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
The Pongal pageant in Tamil Nadu, recognized for its vibrant traditions, has as soon as once more impacted operations at Chennai Worldwide Airport. Smoke from the customary burning of outdated garments and waste throughout Bhogi, part of Pongal celebrations, blanketed town, severely lowering visibility and resulting in widespread flight cancellations and delays.
Flight Operations Affected
On January 13, the thick smog brought on by pageant actions led to the cancellation of three key Indigo flights from Delhi and Bengaluru. Moreover, schedules for over 30 flights to locations corresponding to Dubai, Singapore, and Mumbai had been modified.
Worldwide carriers, together with Oman Air and AirAsia, adjusted their schedules to accommodate the hazardous circumstances, making certain passenger security. For example, AirAsia flights between Chennai and Kuala Lumpur had been rescheduled till January 15, shifting arrival and departure instances to later within the day when visibility improves.
Recurring Difficulty Throughout Pongal
This isn’t the primary time Chennai airport has confronted disruptions throughout Pongal. In earlier years, comparable circumstances led to important operational challenges. In 2018, 118 flights had been affected, whereas the quantity dropped to 51 in 2024. This 12 months, airways proactively rescheduled early morning flights to mitigate the affect of poor visibility.
Regardless of efforts by civic authorities to scale back air pollution and lift consciousness, the difficulty persists resulting from restricted pilot coaching for operations below visibility circumstances beneath 400 meters.
Broader Implications: Air High quality and Public Well being
The affect of Bhogi celebrations extends past the airport. Chennai’s air high quality deteriorated considerably, with dense smoke inflicting respiration difficulties for residents and visibility challenges for motorists.
The Tamil Nadu Air pollution Management Board (TNPCB) is monitoring air high quality at 15 areas in Chennai through the pageant. Whereas gentle rain briefly improved circumstances, air pollution ranges are anticipated to rise additional.
Steps Towards Decision
Whereas authorities have taken measures to curb waste burning close to the airport, higher neighborhood engagement and stricter enforcement are vital to stop disruptions sooner or later. Enhanced pilot coaching for low-visibility circumstances and improved know-how for airport operations might mitigate the affect of such occasions.
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