Chennai: 550 IndiGo flights cancelled amid rain and Cyclone

Cyclone Michaung has caused chaos in Chennai with the cancellation of over a thousand flights since monday due to heavy rain near the city airport. The Chennai Airport was on a complete shutdown. IndiGo Airlines had to cancel 550 flights nationwide following the airport's shutdown, while Vistara and Air India suspended 10 and 16 flights originating from Chennai.

Chennai airport closed its runway and grounded all planes yesterday due to flooding, but operations resumed this morning. Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam airport is currently closed as the cyclone has shifted towards Andhra Pradesh.

IndiGo resumed flights from Chennai around noon but had to cancel 60 flights.Passengers affected by the disruptions will receive a waiver for flight cancellations and rescheduling, as announced by IndiGo, which, having surpassed 2,000 daily scheduled flights, now has 15 planes parked in Chennai that were grounded during the airport closure.

IndiGo Airlines had to cancel 550 flights nationwide following the airport's shutdown, while Vistara and Air India suspended 10 and 16 flights originating from Chennai.

_{(Representational image; Airplanes at Chennai airport)}

Vistara has also resumed operations to and from Chennai. Vistara has reached out to affected passengers, providing alternatives and minimising inconvenience. A spokesperson stated that the team has been in constant communication, offering updates and options like rescheduling or refunds.

Air India, having cancelled 33 return flights during Chennai airport's closure, waived rescheduling charges of 2 days. The airline also cancelled 20 return flights on Tuesday.

In addition to flight suspensions, Cyclone Michaung's heavy rain led to the cancellation of numerous trains in Chennai, with affected passengers assured of full refunds.

Landfall near Bapatla on the Andhra Pradesh coast has begun as the cyclone progresses. Now, with the rain easing, the city Chennai is dealing with the difficulty of draining flood water, from the city and assessing the infrastructure damage caused by the intense rainfall.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department reported today that Cyclone Michaung has moved northwards along the south Andhra Pradesh coast, maintaining its severity over the west-central Bay of Bengal.

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