Video: SpiceJet passengers wait inside Darbhanga-bound aircraft without air conditioning amid Delhi heatwave

SpiceJet found itself in hot waters after passengers on board a Darbhanga-bound flight from Delhi on Wednesday (June 19) claimed that they were forced to wait inside the aircraft without air conditioning for over an hour amid soaring temperatures in the national capital.

Several passengers aboard the flight complained of uneasiness due to the oppressive heat as the heatwave continues to grip the national capital.

One of the passengers, Rohan Kumar said that the air-conditioner was switched on after the flight took off.

"I was travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga (SG 476) from SpiceJet. At the Delhi airport after check-in, they did not switch on the air-conditioning (AC) for an hour. The temperature inside (flight) was 40 degrees. The passengers were suffering. The air-conditioner (AC) was switched on when the flight took off."

'Flight departed without delays,' says SpiceJet

However, SpiceJet released a statement saying that the flight SG 476 bound for Darbhanga departed at its scheduled time at 11 am without any delays.

"The air conditioning was working normally throughout the flight, which was verified and cross-checked upon arrival in Darbhanga. The same aircraft operated the return flight to Delhi, and there were no issues with the air conditioning on the return flight either" a statement by the airline said.

"During boarding in Delhi, the air conditioning initially experienced slight inefficiency due to extreme weather conditions and both doors of the aircraft being open, as boarding was not via the aerobridge. The doors were promptly closed after boarding completion, and the cooling functioned normally thereafter," according to the SpiceJet spokesperson.

Heatwave kills 5 in Delhi

As several parts of north India continue to grapple with scorching heat, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday (June 19) issued an advisory to central government-run hospitals urging them to provide immediate treatment to heatstroke patients.

With the maximum temperatures touching approximately 51 degrees Celsius, Delhi's state-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital reported five deaths due to suspected heatstroke while at least 12 are on ventilator support in critical condition, battling for their lives.

(With inputs from agencies)