Gutsy winds, flooding force Chennai Airport to shut operations

On Monday, a significant number of air travelers found themselves stranded as Chennai Airport temporarily shut down its airfield from 9:17 am to 11 pm. The closure was prompted by strong winds, continuous rainfall, and widespread flooding. According to a Chennai airport official, five outbound flights were canceled, and an additional 23 flights were diverted before the airfield closure. The disruptions also led to the cancellation of two incoming flights, adding to the travel woes of passengers affected by the adverse weather conditions.

The official said many passengers, who arrived at the airport from their homes, returned home amidst the heavy rains. Some of them, however, stayed put awaiting the weather to get normal. Initially, the airport announced the closure of the airfield nearly two hours from 9.17am to 11.30am. However, as the wind and rains continued unabated leaving the runway inundated, the closure was extended by nearly another 12 hours.

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Chennai Airport’s Resilience Shines During the Challenges of Chennai Floods

In contrast to the 2015 floods, Chennai airport implemented its contingency plan, which had been formulated on Saturday after a comprehensive meeting led by Chennai airport director CV Deepak. According to an airport official, provisions for food and other necessities were organized for passengers in accordance with the contingency plan. On the airside, ground handlers were instructed to secure aircraft and prioritize the safety of ground support equipment and operational staff.

During 2015 in Chennai, floods forced closure of the Chennai airport for at least four days. The airport walls were breached by the Adyar river in 15 to 20 places. Some were 20 metres wide while others, 10 to two metres wide. The Airport Authority of India then had joined hands with the IIT to map the geography of the airport and its surrounding areas using a drone to plan a long-term solution to prevent flooding. It was then planned to map the airport and the surrounding water bodies up to 5-10 km radius from the airport.

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has urged for a comprehensive flood analysis by enlisting the expertise of a consultant specializing in flood modeling for the Adyar river. While CMDA asserted in the Madras Court that the study has been conducted, it has not been disclosed to the public.

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