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Bhogi Bonfires Briefly Cut Chennai Airport Visibility to 300 Metres, Triggering Limited Flight Disruptions

Pre-emptive rescheduling helped keep impacts below past Bhogi disruptions.

Overview

  • Visibility around Chennai Airport fell to about 300 metres between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., then improved to roughly 800 metres by 9 a.m., according to the Regional Meteorological Centre.
  • Light, variable winds, very high humidity and a shallow mixing layer kept fog and Bhogi smoke suspended, prolonging low visibility, the Aerodrome Meteorological Office said.
  • Airlines executed targeted cancellations and delays after advance rescheduling of early-morning services, and the airport warned that smog could cause further operational changes.
  • The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board reported moderate air quality in 11 of 15 Greater Chennai zones and poor in four, following night patrols and awareness drives urging smokeless celebrations.
  • Residents in several areas described milder bonfire smoke than in previous years, while forecasters cautioned that foggy conditions could persist for a short spell before drier weather returns.