Domestic flight operations from Chennai airport, which were suspended since last Wednesday due to water-logging, resumed from Sunday morning.
Several domestic carriers had been grounded in Chennai. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has been desperately trying to start limited flights from Sunday, as this give some hope to the stranded people.
Air India sources had told PTI on Sunday morning the carrier would operate a chartered flight to Port Blair and one to and from Chennai on Sunday.
"Air India flight AI-549 has taken off from Chennai as per schedule," an Air India airline official told IBTimes India.
The ministry has cautioned that the airport might not open until Tuesday, PTI reported.
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved domestic carriers to fly out from the Arakkonam naval air base. Stranded passengers were flown out from Arakkonam to Bengaluru and Hyderabad on Saturday as well, Times of India reported.
The AAI on Saturday declared the runway fit for relief, ferry and technical flights after an inspection by their staff, PTI reported.
Many foreign airlines have cancelled their flights to Chennai until mid-next week. The meteorological department has forecast showers and thunderstroms in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Trains and buses have been arranged for to take the stranded passengers to Arakkonam naval base. Trains are running every 45 minutes from Chennai to the naval base. Officials might allow small planes to land in Chennai airport on Sunday, TOI reported.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced relief of Rs 1,000 crore for the rain-hit state of Tamil Nadu. The armed forces and rescue teams continued rescue and relief operations in the state, while the Army said it had deployed medical teams to deal with emergencies, Zee news reported.
