The Chennai airport authorities have requested the residents in the nieghbourhood to avoid burning waste materials as part of the Bhogi celebrations on January 14 that is widely observed a day before Pongal, the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu.
In a communiqué, the officials reminded the public of the situation in 2018 when the airfield was covered with thick smoke emanating from the bonfire, reducing the visibility at the Chennai airport which in turn led to diversions and cancellations of flights. Nearly 73 departures and 45 arrivals were affected in the year, the statement said.
However, there were less number of disruptions in air traffic in the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the effect of the Bhogi bonfire could be minimised through intense sensitisation among the public and communities around Chennai airport, officials pointed out.
