An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar, carrying 227 passengers, encountered rough weather on Wednesday when it encountered an unexpected hailstorm. The bad weather caused strong turbulence and damaged a small part of the aircraft's nose. A video from inside the flight (6E2142) has gone viral, where passengers, especially children, can be heard screaming and crying as the plane shakes violently. Flashes of lightning were also visible through the windows.

Due to the rough weather, the pilot informed Air Traffic Control in Srinagar about an "emergency" situation. Thankfully, the plane landed safely at around 6:30 pm. In a statement, IndiGo said, “Flight 6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar experienced a sudden hailstorm during the journey. The flight and cabin crew followed all safety procedures, and the plane landed safely in Srinagar.”

The airline also said that their airport team looked after the passengers’ comfort and safety after landing. The aircraft will be checked and repaired before it is used again. While IndiGo did not officially mention any damage, a viral image on social media showed that a part of the aircraft's nose was broken after the flight flew through a hailstorm. NDTV confirmed the damage.

The storm hit Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening with heavy rain, hail, and strong winds reaching speeds of 79 kmph. The sudden weather change caused trees to fall, waterlogging, and major traffic jams in several parts of the city, which had earlier experienced a hot and humid day. Between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm, Delhi’s Safdarjung area recorded 12.2 mm of rainfall, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The bad weather affected flight operations at Delhi airport, and passengers on the Metro's Yellow Line were stuck for hours. Airlines also issued warnings, saying flights might get delayed or cancelled due to the changing weather.

In nearby Noida, strong winds damaged hoardings, shattered windows, and added to the chaos caused by the storm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the sudden storm and rain in Delhi-NCR were caused by a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and nearby areas. This system is part of a weather pattern stretching from Punjab to Bangladesh. Moist air from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal is adding to the storm activity.

Earlier in the day, Delhi faced extreme heat and humidity. The "feels like" temperature reached 50.2°C due to a mix of high humidity and strong sunlight. The IMD reported that the maximum temperature on Wednesday was 40.7°C, slightly above normal, with humidity levels ranging between 64% and 34% throughout the day.