Flight operations at Raipur airport hit as lightning damages

An aircraft navigation equipment at Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm this evening, resulting in disruption of flight operations, an airport official said.

The 'Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range' equipment was struck by lightning around 6 PM, said Airport Director Rakesh R Sahay.

The impact was so severe that the back-up equipment was also burnt due to "induction effect", he said.

Consequently, landing and take-off of flights have been suspended till 12 noon tomorrow, he said.

Repair works will be carried out through the night and as soon as the equipment is ready for use, flight operations will resume, Sahay told PTI.

Three flights -- Indigo 466 Hyderabad-Raipur, Indigo 2912 Delhi-Raipur and Jet Airways' 967 Mumbai-Raipur -- which were to arrive here were diverted to Nagpur, he said.