Hailstorm: 38 flights hit in Delhi

Heavy rains and hailstrom accompanied by strong winds lashed the national capital Thursday, bringing the mercury down by four to five notches and causing several flights to be diverted to nearby cities.

Operations at the Delhi airport saw massive disruption as 38 flights had to be diverted between 6 pm and 8.45 pm, and several others faced delays of over two hours due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Operations of smaller aircraft such as the Bombardier and the ATR were suspended for a while due to strong winds but resumed later, airport officials said.

The minimum temperature in the city settled at 15 degrees Celsius, six notches above the season’s average and the maximum temperature was recorded at 19.1 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season’s average.

Parts of Himachal Pradesh, including state capital Shimla, were also on Friday enveloped in a thick blanket of snow even as the state received rain and fresh snowfall. Shimla railway station has also been submerged in snow.