IndiGo Flight with Assam CM Diverted to Agartala Due to Bad Weather

Agartala, Aug 25 (PTI): A Guwahati-bound IndiGo flight, carrying Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, faced a diversion to Tripura’s Agartala airport due to adverse weather conditions, according to an official statement released on Monday. The precautionary measure was taken Sunday evening when inclement weather in Guwahati prevented a safe landing. A spokesperson from the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, KC Meena, confirmed that the aircraft was redirected to Agartala as conditions deteriorated at the intended destination.

Meena highlighted that heavy rains and thunderstorms over Guwahati led to the flight's diversion from Dibrugarh's Mohanbari airport on its route. Once the weather improved, the flight proceeded to Guwahati. The Chief Minister’s Office in Guwahati confirmed Sarma's presence aboard the flight. Meena stressed that the diversion solely resulted from unfavorable weather, with no technical issues involved.

Upon the flight’s landing in Agartala, Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury met with Sarma. Chowdhury shared on Facebook: “After receiving news about the emergency landing of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s aircraft at Agartala airport due to the foul weather in Guwahati, I rushed to connect with dada (elder brother).” Normal operations resumed at the airport following an improvement in Guwahati’s weather conditions.

A total of five flights, initially diverted, landed at MBB airport on Sunday, Meena noted, with all eventually departing for their respective destinations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Regional Centre in Guwahati had previously forecast heavy rainfall and thunderstorms between 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm on August 24. Airlines, including IndiGo, alerted passengers to potential delays and disruptions in the Northeast amidst persistent adverse weather conditions.

Reaffirming the flight diversion's necessity, the Chief Minister’s Office in Guwahati emphasized its alignment with passenger safety protocols. No incidents were reported during Agartala’s brief stop. Authorities across the Northeast advise passengers to remain informed about potential disruptions due to unpredictable weather patterns.