Daijiworld Media Network – Goa

Goa, May 21: Flight operations at Goa’s Dabolim International Airport faced brief disruptions on Tuesday evening as poor visibility caused by heavy rains forced the diversion of two incoming flights from Pune and Mumbai, airport authorities confirmed.

Speaking to PTI, George Varughese, Director of Dabolim Airport in South Goa, said the IndiGo flight from Pune was diverted to Hyderabad, while the Mumbai-Goa flight was sent to Belgaum, Karnataka.

“The Mumbai-Goa flight that was diverted to Belgaum later landed at Dabolim once conditions improved. All other scheduled flights landed on time, and operations resumed as normal,” Varughese added.

The disruptions come as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange alert for Goa on Tuesday and Wednesday, predicting intense rainfall across the coastal state. The rains, which began late Monday night, have been heavy in parts, affecting visibility and travel conditions.

Sources at the airport said that visibility at the runway dropped below safe landing limits, prompting air traffic controllers to divert the flights as a precautionary measure. The safety of passengers was ensured and no untoward incident was reported.

Despite the temporary diversions, airport officials assured that no major delay or cancellations followed the incident. "Traffic was restored soon after weather conditions improved," said a senior official at the airport.

Travellers have been advised to check flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport, as intermittent weather disturbances are expected to continue till Wednesday evening.

As per the IMD forecast, strong winds, lightning, and heavy rainfall are likely to lash parts of North and South Goa. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea, and locals are urged to stay alert for potential waterlogging and disruptions.