Departure, arrival of 32 flights delayed at Chennai airport

PTI Updated - January 24, 2018 at 02:28 PM.

Chennai, 14/01/2015 : A thick blanket of smog that engulfed the city following the burning of waste on the Bhogi day. The phenomenon was anticipated as dew fall is common during December and January. Once the water vapour in the atmosphere evaporated after sun rise, the smog started lifting gradually. The burning of waste resulted in microfine particles of carbon lying suspended in the atmosphere. Unrestrained burning of tyres and plastic items on Bogi day would produce dense smoke and toxic fumes polluting air, water and soil. Several toxic fumes released at the time of burning of tyres would cause considerable damage to health. Burning tyres, tubes and plastic items would produce deadly chemicals that would cause respiratory diseases and damage the environment. Emission from burning tyres and plastic items in an open area was more toxic than any another emissions. Carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, oxides of nitrogen, dioxins, hydrogen chloride, benzene and metals such as arsenic, nickel, chromium and zinc would be released while burning these materials. This would cause chronic health hazards. Despite pleas by Government agencies and NGOs, residents of Chennai burnt waste materials on roads and public places on Saturday converting the city into a gas chamber. The TNPCB pointed out that such a practice of burning old things on the roads was in violation of the law. The High Court had already banned burning of things other than wood and cow dung. Those found to be violating the same and causing pollution would be dealt with under the provisions of law. Text and picture : S_R_Raghunathan

The departure and arrival of 32 flights was delayed by about two hours from 7.30 am at the airport here due to heavy smoke on account of burning of material by people on Bhogi , the first day of the Pongal harvest festival, airport sources said.

All the flights, barring one from Oman, were domestic, they said.

The Oman Airways flight from Muscat with 148 passengers on board was diverted to Bangalore.

An outgoing Air India flight from here to Mumbai was stopped just before take off on the runway as the air traffic control did not give clearance for its scheduled departure at 7.30 am.

It left for its onward destination at 9.30 am, they said.

In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, the day preceding Thai Pongal is called Bhogi when people discard old and derelict things and concentrate on new things causing change or transformation. At dawn, people light a bonfire with logs of wood, other solid-fuels and wooden furniture at home that are no longer useful.

Published on January 14, 2015 07:29