Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: Heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, caused significant disruptions at Goa International Airport in Dabolim on Tuesday evening, leading to the diversion of five commercial flights.
The adverse weather conditions forced airport authorities to redirect flights to alternate airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore.
A source at the airport confirmed the weather-induced disruptions.
“There were five flights diverted last night due to the bad weather. Two flights were diverted to Hyderabad, while three were rerouted to Bangalore. Fortunately, by around 12:10 AM, the weather had cleared, and normal flight operations resumed.
The diverted flights, which included one Vistara flight and four Indigo Airlines flights, eventually returned to Goa,” said the source.
Meanwhile, Lightning struck the Holy Spirit Church, Margao on Tuesday evening when the city was lashed by heavy showers accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Sources said that the lightning struck the belfry tower, and the impact was so great that a huge stone came crashing down near the steps at the entrance to the Church on the northern side. The debris was seen lying on the steps and the adjoining area. No one, however, was injured in the incident.
Incidentally, locals pointed out that the Holy Spirit Church was struck by lightning in the year 2015 when lightning had struck the belfry.
Incidentally, the tall tree in front of the Holy Spirit Church was a subject of debate during the visit of Governor Sreedharan Pillai when he was informed that the tall trees are normally found in front of the Churches in a bid to attract the lightning towards itself and away from the metal bell in the belfry.
