A sudden heavy downpour accompanied by hail and strong winds has disrupted flight operations at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), with water entering the domestic terminal building and leaving passengers struggling to move around the facility.
The intense rainfall on Wednesday afternoon caused water to leak through the roof of the domestic terminal, flooding parts of the terminal floor. Passengers preparing to fly to different destinations were reportedly affected, while movement around check-in counters and the passenger area became difficult due to the accumulated water.
Domestic Terminal Flooded as Water Leaks Through Roof
Water entered the terminal building after the sudden hailstorm and heavy rainfall, leaving sections of the floor submerged. Passengers who had already obtained boarding passes and were inside the terminal faced difficulties moving in and out of the building.
An official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which operates the airport, said the flooding was caused by rainwater leaking through the terminal’s roof.
“The area beyond the check-in counters has been flooded,” the official said, adding that efforts were underway to remove the accumulated water and facilitate the movement of passengers.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the condition of the airport’s domestic terminal infrastructure, particularly its ability to withstand sudden heavy rainfall.
Hail Accumulation Disrupts Runway Operations
Meanwhile, the sudden change in weather has also affected aircraft takeoffs and landings at TIA. Heavy hail accumulated on parts of the runway and taxiway, forcing the airport to suspend operations from around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to TIA spokesperson Sanjay Kumar, a large amount of hail fell across the airport following an abrupt change in weather.
“Suddenly, there was heavy rain accompanied by hail. A thick layer of hail has accumulated from Taxiway Bravo up to Runway 20,” he said, describing the weather event as unusual for this time of the year.
He said airport authorities were working to clear the hail and restore the runway for normal operations.
Firefighting Vehicles Used to Clear Hail
The airport’s Rescue and Fire Fighting (RFF) service has been mobilized to clear the accumulated hail from the runway and make the airside infrastructure operational.
However, the airport does not have dedicated equipment specifically designed for removing hail, according to the spokesperson. As a result, firefighting vehicles are being used as part of the effort to clear the runway.
The unusual weather has created operational challenges for both domestic and international flights arriving at and departing from Kathmandu.
Eight Aircraft Held in the Air
At least eight aircraft scheduled to land at Tribhuvan International Airport were reportedly holding in the air outside Kathmandu following the disruption. Of the eight aircraft, four are international flights and four are domestic flights.
Some aircraft also had to return to their parking positions after the sudden weather deterioration. Among the affected flights, a Buddha Air aircraft that was preparing to operate a flight to Rajbiraj returned to the parking bay. Similarly, a Thai Airways aircraft preparing to fly to Bangkok also returned to the parking area.
The airport authorities are continuing efforts to clear the hail and remove water from the domestic terminal as they work to resume normal flight operations.
