The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange-level alert for nine northern and central states from 6–8 April, forecasting heavy rain, hail and winds gusting up to 60 km/h. News24 reports that Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab could see airport visibility fall below 800 m during peak storm cells, prompting potential flight delays and diversions. Railway zones have activated disaster-management teams, and several state highway agencies are readying tree-clearing units to keep arterial roads open. In the past, similar western-disturbance events have led to cascading delays at Delhi’s IGI Airport—the primary hub for business travellers—and forced airlines to reschedule evening bank departures. Companies with time-sensitive cross-border movements, such as on-site client demos or expatriate hand-overs, should monitor Met-briefings and allow buffer days in itineraries. Travellers are advised to use app-based airport-transfer services that offer real-time route re-optimisation, as city traffic grids can seize during sudden cloudbursts. Remote areas of Himachal and Uttarakhand may face temporary road closures, affecting weekend leisure add-ons often combined with Delhi business trips. Insurance providers have reminded corporates to check policy clauses for ‘weather-related trip interruption’ and to collect documentary evidence—such as airline delay certificates—to facilitate claims. The IMD expects the low-pressure trough to weaken by 9 April, allowing normal operations to resume.
Source: News24 Online
