Winds ground balloons, then give way: dramatic finale as Hyderabad Hot Air Balloon festival ends on a high

The Hot Air Balloon Festival in Hyderabad concluded on a dramatic note on Sunday as strong winds briefly disrupted operations, grounding the balloons for about an hour before calmer conditions allowed rides to resume and all the ticketed passengers to be accommodated.

By around 5 p.m., all the balloons had arrived at the venue and inflation had begun. Between five and six balloons were fully inflated as organisers started sending passengers for rides in a staggered manner. However, as the process was underway, sudden gusts of strong wind began to affect the stability of the balloons, making take-offs and landings increasingly difficult. As wind conditions worsened, a few balloons were gradually deflated as a precautionary measure.

Three balloons initially remained operational and attempted to fly, but pilots faced challenges in maintaining direction and controlling ascent and descent due to the turbulence. Within a short span, even these three balloons had to be deflated, leading organisers to temporarily halt all activities. By 7 p.m., all the balloons were grounded.

Despite the suspension of flights, a large number of visitors remained in the queue, hoping that the weather would become favourable. Ujwal, who had come with his wife and son, said he felt relieved when operations resumed after about an hour. “We eventually realised that wind conditions were beyond anyone’s control and even aircraft are sometimes unable to take off while hot air balloons are entirely dependent on the wind. Since the SkyWaltz team had requested passengers to wait, we were prepared to stay for some time before deciding to leave, but then we are grateful that the wind speed eventually dropped and the rides resumed,” he added.

Around 8 p.m. as the wind situation eased, one larger balloon was inflated to allow passengers to take a ride, bringing hope back to waiting ticket holders. By around 8.30 p.m., another balloon was inflated and more passengers were accommodated, reviving anticipation among the hundreds who were still present at the venue.

Another attendee said that announcements were being made that the programme would continue if the wind conditions remained favourable. “I was among the first to get a ride after the flights resumed. Once inside the balloon, I realised how challenging it is to operate it. The SkyWaltz team deserves credit for standing by the ticket holders and ensuring that everyone eventually got a chance to fly,” he added.

During the brief halt in operations, the SkyWaltz team addressed the gathering and explained that the earlier wind conditions were not suitable for safe balloon flights. Speaking to The Hindu, Captain M. Chouhan, Chief of Flight Safety at SkyWaltz, said that by 9 p.m. all ticketed passengers had been accommodated for a ride, and as a gesture of appreciation, the team also offered a balloon ride to the police personnel who had been on duty throughout the three-day event. “We really enjoyed how Hyderabad treated us and hope to come back here again,” he added.