Heavy rains, flooding close Chennai, India until December 6

Chennai International Airport has been closed to commercial operations until Sunday, December 6 after two days of heavy and continuous rains inundated the airfield's runways, apron, and passenger terminal. 

"By 06h00L today [December 2], the situation had deteriorated severely, leading to submerging of entire operational area in approximately seven feet of water. All incoming flights were diverted to alternate airfields, except one international flight which was cleared due to medical priority," a government statement read. "During the closure, twelve domestic and twelve international arrivals were diverted on December 1, 2015. Thirty-four aircraft are stranded at the airport. All international and domestic flights to and from Chennai have been cancelled."

Flights have since been diverted to Arkonam, an Indian Air Force base located 70km from the Tamil Nadu capital, to allow for the waters to recede.

Heavy rains, flooding close Chennai