Bengaluru Rain Chaos: 30 Flights Diverted, T1 Roof Leaks

New Delhi, March 19, 2026: The sudden downpour, which brought much-needed relief from the city’s recent heatwave, quickly turned into a logistical challenge for aviation authorities as heavy rain and strong winds lashed the Devanahalli region.

Flight Operations Hit by Intense Thunderstorms

As a result of the inclement weather, flight operations at KIA were severely impacted. Airport officials confirmed that 30 flights, including several international services, were unable to land due to poor visibility and gusty winds.

• Diversion Details: Most of the affected flights were redirected to Chennai, while others were sent to Coimbatore, Tiruchy, and Hyderabad.
• Airlines Affected: Major carriers including IndiGo, Air India Express, and Vistara saw their schedules disrupted. International flights from Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, and Malaysia were among those forced to seek alternative landing sites.
• Passenger Impact: Hundreds of travelers remained stranded for hours. In one instance, an Air India Express flight from Dehradun was diverted to Chennai, where passengers were kept on the tarmac for over two hours before being allowed to deboard.

Terminal 1 Roof Leakage Causes Inconvenience

Adding to the chaos, the infrastructure at Terminal 1 faced scrutiny after rainwater began leaking from the ceiling. Visuals shared on social media by frustrated passengers showed water dripping into the terminal building, requiring airport staff to quickly cordon off affected zones and deploy cleaning crews.

While Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has previously invested heavily in the “Garden Terminal” (T2), the older Terminal 1—which handles a large volume of domestic traffic—struggled to contain the intensity of Wednesday’s “pre-monsoon” showers. Officials stated that the breach was localized and that technical teams were immediately deployed to carry out repairs and ensure passenger safety.

Weather Forecast and City Impact

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the airport area recorded approximately 64.8 mm of rainfall within a 24-hour period ending Thursday morning. The storm was accompanied by hailstorms in parts of North and East Bengaluru, leading to:

• Signboard Collapses: A large billboard fell across the Tumakuru Road highway near Nelamangala, causing a massive traffic snarl.
• Urban Flooding: Several low-lying areas and roads leading to the airport witnessed waterlogging, adding 30 to 45 minutes to travel times for commuters.

The IMD has forecast continued thundershowers and gusty winds for the next few days across interior Karnataka. Travelers are advised to check their flight status with respective airlines before heading to the airport.