Animal influx hits Delhi flights

The runway invasion led to delayed flights

Heavy rains in India resulted in a large number of soaked animals descending on a runway at Delhi's main airport to dry off, officials say.

They say that the sudden appearance of jackals, monitor lizards and raptors on the runway resulted in numerous flight delays for an hour on Monday.

Animal groups rescued many of the lizards and chased away the jackals.

But officials say the hold-up had a knock-on effect and delayed evening and daytime flights.

They say that the animals were looking to warm up after the first monsoon rains this year hit the capital.

Indira Gandhi International Airport spokesman Arun Arora said in a statement that monitor lizards up to nearly a metre long were among the creatures seeking sanctuary on the runway.

He did not confirm newspaper reports say that about 100 flights had been affected by the influx.

'Wrong signal'

In the monsoon season, from June to September, heavy rains routinely delay flights all over India.

Air traffic in the country is busier than ever, with an increasing number of new low-cost airlines launching operations.

The body that runs the country's airways, the Airport Authority of India, refused to speak BBC about the closure.

Correspondents say that officials believe any unforeseen closure of Delhi airport sent the wrong signals at a time when India was trying to project itself as a modern country.