Hyderabad’s Hot Air Balloon Festival ended on a dramatic note Sunday as strong winds forced a one-hour stop. By 5 p.m., all balloons had arrived and started inflating. Between five and six balloons were ready when sudden gusts made flying unsafe. Organisers deflated some balloons for safety. Only three balloons tried to fly, but pilots struggled with control due to turbulence. Soon, these balloons were also grounded, and flights halted by 7 p.m. Many visitors stayed in hopes of better weather. Ujwal, visiting with his family, said, “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.” By 8 p.m., calmer winds allowed organisers to inflate a large balloon and start rides again. More balloons followed by 8:30 p.m., giving hundreds of waiting passengers new hope. One rider said, “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.” During the halt, SkyWaltz addressed the crowd, explaining the need for safety. Captain M. Chouhan, Chief of Flight Safety, told The Hindu that by 9 p.m., all ticketed passengers had been flown. As a thank you, the organisers gave balloon rides to police personnel who guarded the event all three days. “We really enjoyed how Hyderabad treated us and hope to come back here again,” said Captain Chouhan.