Dubai rain: Indian embassy in UAE issues advisory for passengers
The Indian embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday issued a travel advisory for Indian passengers in wake of the severe flooding in Dubai, following heavy rain this week. The embassy advised Indian passengers travelling to or transiting through Dubai International Airport to reschedule non-essential travel till operations normalize. The Dubai airport, recognized as the busiest airport globally for international travel, is grappling with a backlog of flights due to the weather conditions.
Travel advisory details and airport operations amid flooding
The embassy has advised passengers to head to the airport "only after" receiving final confirmation from their respective airlines about flight departure dates and times. Due to the disruption caused by these extraordinary weather conditions, Dubai International Airport has temporarily reduced the number of incoming flights. "To assist Indian nationals at the Dubai International Airport, the Consulate General of India in Dubai has operationalised emergency helpline numbers which have been functional since April 17," the statement added.
Read the advisory here
Unprecedented rainfall disrupts life and travel in UAE
The UAE is currently managing the fallout from its heaviest rainfall since 1949—that led to widespread disruption in Dubai. The state-run WAM news agency has labeled the rains as "a historic weather event." The downpour, partly attributed to cloud seeding efforts, resulted in power outages and significant interruptions at the Dubai airport. Residents faced severe disruptions as water flooded homes and underground parking lots, leading to power failures in some buildings.
Cloud seeding contributed to unprecedented rainfall in UAE
The desert nation experienced heavy rainfall potentially due to cloud seeding operations initiated in 2002 to address water security concerns. Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique where substances like silver iodide or dry ice are dispersed into clouds to stimulate precipitation. The UAE has been using this technique since the late 1990s, with research partnerships with institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and NASA supporting their efforts.
