Nepal — Heavy rain accompanied by hail and thunderstorms has affected several airports across Nepal, including Tribhuvan International Airport, causing significant disruptions to air travel.

Adverse weather conditions have created challenges for safe takeoffs and landings, forcing multiple flights to be delayed, diverted, or returned to their origin airports. Despite airports remaining technically operational, low visibility and stormy conditions have prevented aircraft from landing safely.

According to airport spokesperson Santosh Kumar Basnet, an IndiGo Airlines flight from India bound for Kathmandu was diverted to Lucknow after it was unable to land. Similarly, a Qatar Airways flight arriving from Doha is currently holding in the air over Nepal.

Basnet warned that if weather conditions do not improve soon, additional flights may need to be diverted. Several domestic flights from cities such as Biratnagar, Simara, Dhangadhi, and Bhairahawa bound for Kathmandu have either returned mid-route or were redirected to alternate airports due to the adverse weather.

Although visibility is currently around 3,000 meters, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms have made approaches difficult, prompting pilots to avoid taking risks and return to their original airports. Airport authorities emphasize that passenger safety remains the top priority.