Usually it is always heavy fog that grounds flights but this time it was dust that reduced normal visibility and grounded all flights at the Guwahati airport, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Dust storms at this time of the year is not uncommon in Assam but such a long spell of dry weather is worrying. This is the first time that the airport has been virtually shut down because of low visibility due to dust storm.
"We haven't had rains for months and that has affected the atmosphere. The suspended particles has filled the air and reduced visibility due to which flying aircrafts is not possible," Guwahati Met department member D K Handique said.
Unprecedented delays and cancellations since Monday have left thousands stranded. Around 80 flights have either not taken off or landed since visibility was affected.
"We have been here since morning but not sure of what is happening. There are patients stranded," one of the passengers said.
Airport authorities have also said that the delays were due a defective ILS which has now been restored. The first flight has in fact landed this afternoon, but with the Met department predicting similar weather conditions, it is unlikely that air traffic will operate on schedule
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