NEW DELHI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- As many as 24 flights to Delhi had been diverted after a sudden dust storm and heavy rains hit the Indian capital late Friday evening, officials said.

"While some flights were diverted by air traffic control, and others failed in their bid to land at Delhi airport due to low visibility owing to dust storm and rains," an aviation official said.

"Several flights could not take off from the Indira Gandhi airport on time due to inclement weather," he added.

An official of private airline Vistara took to social media to calm aggrieved passengers. "Weather not in our control," he tweeted.

The unexpected rains came as a major relief from the rising temperatures in Delhi. "More rains are expected in the next 24 to 48 hours," said a weather official.