Unseasonal heatwave has struck the usually chilly Ladakh region, forcing Indian airlines to ground dozens of flights as temperatures soared to nearly 35 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat, unprecedented in recent years, has brought air travel to a grinding halt, with multiple flights canceled or delayed as crews struggle to cope with the scorching conditions.
A total of 12 flights have been cancelled over the past three days, leaving many passengers stranded, including several users who took to social media platform X to express their frustration. In addition, low-cost carrier IndiGo has suspended all flight bookings on its website until July 31, adding to the travel woes.
On Monday, IndiGo announced the cancellation of all flights to Leh due to high ground temperatures and runway restrictions. The airline promised refunds for affected passengers in a post on X. “High ground temperatures and runway restrictions in #Leh have necessitated the cancellation of all flights for today. If you wish to re-book or claim a refund, visit https://bit.ly/3MxSLeE We regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding,” the post read.
Flight cancellations due to extreme weather conditions are not uncommon in Leh-Ladakh, but this marks the first instance of widespread cancellations caused by extremely high daytime temperatures.
At high altitudes like Leh, low air density can impair aircraft engine performance. As altitude increases, both air temperature and pressure decrease, causing air molecules to expand and reducing overall air density. This results in lower oxygen availability, which is why mountaineers use oxygen cylinders at high elevations.
The Leh airport, situated over 14,000 feet above sea level, presents more challenging conditions for aircraft operations than most other locations in the country. Lower natural air pressure throughout the year, coupled with any abnormal increase in temperature, can further reduce air density.