Chennai: In view of the flooding of Chennai International Airport at Meenambakkam, Rajali Naval air station near Arakonam, on the outskirts of Chennai, has been converted into a make-shift airport for commercial flights.
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NDTV reported that flights to and out of Chennai have been cancelled for the day and the airport is shut with water on the runway as the city battles heavy rain of the kind not seen in nearly a 100 years.
The airports Authority of India has issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to all air operators in this regard, AAI spokesperson said here. This notice is a communication that informs pilots about potential risks to flight safety. “All passengers are expected to be evacuated by 4 pm on Wednesday”.
Airport management said that priority would be given to takeoff movements in an attempt to clear the backlog of stranded passengers. Mr Srivastava said 66 arrivals and 53 departures have been cancelled since Tuesday.
The Chennai Airport will remain closed till Sunday. Almost 35-37 aircraft, mostly of domestic airliners, are grounded at the airport.
“The situation is being closely monitored and any further action will be taken subject to review for resumption of services as soon as possible”, an official press release from the Ministry of Civil Aviation said here this evening.
“A lot of things are stranded at the airport”.
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A third army team joined the operations on Wednesday, and a fourth column was on its way to Chennai from Bengaluru by road, the statement said. “If water recedes, then only we will be able to do something”.
