Flight diverted due to weather: Air India Express flight rerouted to Kolkata; Low visibility at Ranchi causes brief disruption

Ranchi: A Ranchi-bound Air India Express flight from Delhi was diverted to Kolkata due to low visibility at Birsa Munda Airport on Tuesday morning.

The Airbus 320, IX 1046, carrying 46 passengers, was scheduled to arrive at the airport at 9:25 am. On Tuesday morning, Ranchi had a visibility of 200 metres.

“The flight hovered around for some time, attempting to land at Ranchi airport. But due to very poor visibility in the morning, it was diverted to Kolkata airport. However, as the weather improved, the flight returned to Ranchi and landed safely without causing much inconvenience to the passengers,” airport director Vinod Kumar told TOI.

The installation of the CAT-II instrument landing system (ILS) at Ranchi airport is getting delayed due to land acquisition issues, which in turn is causing difficulties in flight operations during low visibility.

Kumar said that despite the hurdles, the airport authorities were trying to install the ILS to ensure uninterrupted flight operations at the airport.

In March 2024, the airport initiated groundwork for CAT-II ILS to reduce runway visual range (RVR), enabling aircraft operations in low visibility.

In isolated places across Jharkhand, the sky remained cloudy throughout the day on Tuesday, under the impact of a cyclonic circulation over the southern parts of the state.

Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms was also recorded at isolated places over the state.

The highest rainfall, 42.4 mm, was recorded at Dhalbhumgarh in East Singhbhum. Bokaro recorded 23.8 mm, and Baharagora automatic weather station (AWS) in East Singhbhum recorded 11 mm of rainfall on Tuesday.

The Ranchi office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a yellow alert anticipating thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds speeding up to 40-50 kmph until Friday, in isolated places in the eastern, central, and north-eastern parts of the state.

“The yellow alert was issued for 15 districts in the eastern and central regions — Ranchi, Khunti, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Giridih, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Pakur, Godda, Seraikela-Kharwasan and Sahibganj districts, on Wednesday and Thursday. While six districts in the north-eastern part — Deoghar, Jamtara, Dumka, Sahibganj, Godda and Pakur — are likely to witness thunderstorm and wind activities,” Abhishek Anand, director of Ranchi IMD, said.

Ranchi on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 32.9 °C, Jamshedpur 34.6 °C, Daltonganj 35.4 °C, Bokaro 27.1 °C and Chaibasa 32.4 °C. Saraikela AWS recorded the highest maximum temperature of 36.1 °C on Tuesday in the state.