Assam CM’s Flight Diverted to Agartala Amid Storm

An IndiGo flight carrying Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was diverted to Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport on Sunday evening due to severe weather in Guwahati, officials confirmed. The Airbus A320 (Flight 6E 187), en route from Dibrugarh’s Mohanbari Airport to Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, faced heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, making landing impossible.

KC Meena, MBB Airport Director, stated, “The diversion was a precautionary measure due to inclement weather, with no technical issues reported.” The flight, originally scheduled to land at 3:40 PM, safely touched down in Agartala and departed for Guwahati after conditions improved. The Chief Minister’s Office verified Sarma’s presence on board, emphasizing passenger safety as the priority.

Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury rushed to meet Sarma, posting on Facebook, “I spent time with dada (elder brother) after his aircraft’s emergency landing.” Five flights, including Sarma’s, were diverted to MBB Airport on Sunday, all later departing for their destinations, Meena added.

Also Read: Hyderabad Flights Grounded by Storm

The India Meteorological Department’s Guwahati Regional Centre had forecast cloudy skies with rain and thunder from 2:30 PM to 8:30 PM on August 24, prompting IndiGo’s travel advisory: “Persistent rainfall and thunderstorms are affecting Guwahati, impacting flights. Check flight status and allow extra travel time.” This follows a similar incident a week earlier, when a Dibrugarh-bound flight carrying Assam minister Bimal Borah faced a turbulent landing attempt at Guwahati.

The Northeast’s unpredictable weather continues to challenge aviation, with authorities urging passengers to stay updated on flight schedules.

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