Passengers reported feeling unwell due to the oppressive heat and lack of ventilation. Several passengers, including the elderly and young children, experienced symptoms of heat exhaustion.
“I was travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga (SG 486) from SpiceJet.At the Delhi airport after the check-in, they did not switch on the air-conditioning for an hour. The temperature inside the flight was 40 degrees. The passengers were suffering. The AC was switched on when the flight took off,” recounted passenger Rohan Kumar.
Airline responds
SpiceJet has issued a statement addressing the concerns raised by the passengers and said that the air conditioning was working normally throughout the flight, which was verified and cross-checked upon arrival in Darbhanga
“SpiceJet flight SG 476 from Delhi to Darbhanga on June 19, scheduled to depart at 11 am, departed on time without any delays. The air conditioning was working normally throughout the flight, which was verified and cross-checked upon arrival in Darbhanga. During boarding in Delhi, the air conditioning initially experienced slight inefficiency due to extreme weather conditions and both doors of the aircraft being open, as boarding was not via the aerobridge. The doors were promptly closed after boarding completion, and the cooling functioned normally thereafter,” explained a SpiceJet spokesperson.
Heatwave situation in Delhi
Meanwhile, extreme heatwave continues to scorch vast regions of north India, with temperatures soaring in the national capital. Delhi, already grappling with a severe water crisis, recorded a maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius, over five degrees above the seasonal norm. The minimum temperature in the city was 33.8 degrees Celsius, at least six degrees higher than usual for this time of year.
Hospitals in Delhi-NCR are seeing an influx of patients suffering from heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Doctors are advising the elderly and immunocompromised individuals to avoid going outdoors as the mercury continues to rise.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed that at least 56 deaths have been attributed to heatstroke across multiple states. In May alone, 46 people died from heatstroke, with a suspected 1,918 cases reported. Data from various states show that over 700,000 people were admitted to emergency departments of primary care hospitals due to heat-related illnesses.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist over many parts of North India on Wednesday. However, a gradual abatement is expected as a western disturbance approaches northwest India.
The IMD reported that heatwave conditions are prevailing in most parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, and in some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and northern Madhya Pradesh.
