A high-stakes situation unfolded in the skies over Kolkata this Thursday as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s flight was caught in a severe thunderstorm accompanied by heavy hail. Returning from Andal, the Chief Minister’s aircraft was forced to hover for nearly an hour and a half before it could safely touch down at the Kolkata airport.

According to official reports, the CM’s flight departed from Andal Airport at 3:39 PM and was scheduled to land in Kolkata at 4:25 PM. However, as the aircraft approached the city, it encountered extreme weather conditions triggered by a sudden Nor’wester. Due to poor visibility and squally winds, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) advised the pilot against landing, leading to a prolonged delay.

For approximately 90 minutes, the aircraft remained in a holding pattern, circling the city sky as rain and hail battered the region. The prolonged wait sparked immense concern within the state administration. It was only after the weather cleared significantly that the ATC gave the green signal for landing. Airport authorities have confirmed that the Chief Minister is safe and reached her destination without further incidents. This nerve-wracking delay highlighted the unpredictability of the current seasonal weather patterns in Bengal.