Raising the possibility of flight disruptions continuing due to heavy rain in Mumbai, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport announced on Tuesday that work to repair its main runway may take up to 48 hours. The main runway was closed on Monday night after a Jaipur-Mumbai SpiceJet flight overshot it while landing amid heavy rain.
Our team is trying their best to bring the main runway back in operation and this may take upto 48 hrs. @pranaamgvk
— CSIA (@CSIAMumbai) July 2, 2019
While the airport is not yet closed, heavy rain has resulted in diversion of flights as only a secondary runway is operational, reducing the airport's capacity to around 30 flights per hour. As many as 52 flights have been cancelled and 54 diverted from Mumbai Airport till midday on Tuesday. Taking to Twitter, the Mumbai Airport announced, “Our team is trying their best to bring the main runway back in operation and this may take up to 48 hrs.”
The Mumbai Airport also requested passengers to check with airlines about exact flight status. It tweeted, “Due to runway excursion by the arriving aircraft,main runway is not available & secondary runway is put in use. Please expect delays in flight operations. Please check with your airline before reaching the airport.”
Earlier in the day, Vistara, SpiceJet, GoAir and IndiGo had tweeted that passengers should reconfirm flight schedules before leaving for the airport given the possibility of further rain disruptions.
#6ETravelAdvisory: Due to heavy rains, we're offering change/cancellation fee waiver to passengers travelling to/fro #Mumbai till July 3, 2019. You may visit Plan B https://t.co/O73ExNIz7i to opt for alternate options or refund. Stay safe and keep a tab on your flight status.
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) July 2, 2019
IndiGo announced that it was waiving fees for change and cancellation of bookings for all passengers travelling to and from Mumbai till Thursday.
Moreover, flooding on the Western Express Highway is causing traffic jams en route to the airport.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday warned heavy rains in Mumbai may continue into the next 24 hours. Fadnavis added the next “two-three days would be crucial”.
Private weather forecaster Skymet informed that at 10.30am on Tuesday, the observatory at Santa Cruz, had over the past 24 hours, “recorded 375mm of rains, which is the highest in a decade for July.” The agency warned that “intermittent moderate rain with isolated heavy spells and strong gusty winds will continue over Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Palghar,” till afternoon on Tuesday. Skymet noted Mumbai has received 795mm of rainfall since Friday.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Chief Minister's Office appealed to Mumbai residents to stay indoors “unless there is any emergency,” citing the forecast for heavy rain.
This story will be updated
