Maldives national carrier Maldivian’s flight bound to Chennai, India diverted to Trivandrum in the face of Tropical Cyclone Vardah that has hit the southern coast of the Indian peninsula on Monday.
Originating from the Bay of Bengal, the cyclone appeared on Chennai’s horizon early Monday, bringing heavy torrents of rain and forcing schools and colleges to close in the state of Tamil Nadu due to flooding. Forecasts predict that winds will reach hurricane force of 100 kilometre per hour.
Maldivian operator Island Aviation Services (IAS)’s Head of Administration Ali Nashaath told Mihaaru that Tropical Cyclone Vardah is currently preventing any airplane from landing in Chennai International Airport. Hence, Maldivian’s morning flight to Chennai was diverted to Trivandrum with land transport organised by IAS for Chennai-bound travellers.
“When we spoke to the locals travelling to Chennai, they insisted to reach Chennai by any means today itself. Hence, we organised transportation by land to Chennai under our own expense.”
The flight was scheduled to leave for Bangladeshi capital Dhaka from Chennai, and is currently sticking to the original plan and departed for Dhaka from Trivandrum. However, Nashaath cited Chennai authorities that there is no guarantee that any flights can land at Chennai on Monday or Tuesday, thus Maldivian might not be able to transit at Chennai on its return flight.
Cyclone alerts have been issued to the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. With forecasts predicting that Cyclone Vardah is likely to strike both states, fishermen have been instructed not to go out to sea while rescue teams and the Indian navy have been put on alert for relief operations.
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