BA forced to cancel Chennai flights
British Airways has been forced to cancel its flight between Heathrow and Chennai in southern India today after the airport closed for 48 hours due to heavy flooding.
Overnight the city received the heaviest rainfall for a century, forcing the state government to release water from overflowing reservoirs and lakes around the city, which in turn caused flooding in roads and streets in the centre.
Officials said the airport will remain closed until 6am on Thursday as the runway and taxiway are completely submerged.
All flights to and from Chennai, including BA 036 due to land at Heathrow at 13.05 today and BA035 due to leave at 14.15, have been cancelled.
Some flights that were en route to Chennai when the airport was closed have been diverted to Bengaluru or Hyderabad.
The city is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the biggest commercial and industrial centre in southern India.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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