This is the terrifying moment passengers were thrown into panic as their flight was rocked by severe turbulence over India.

The IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar was lashed by a sudden hailstorm mid-air on Wednesday evening, May 21.

Officials confirmed that flight 6E2142 was caught in unexpected severe weather, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency with Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Horrifying footage from onboard the Airbus A320 shows distressed passengers screaming and crying as the plane was violently shaken by turbulence.

The flight crew safely landed at Srinagar Airport at approximately 6:30 pm. All 227 passengers and crew members were reported safe.

Local media reported that the French-made aircraft sustained visible damage to its nose.

IndiGo said in a statement: 'IndiGo flight 6E 2142 operating from Delhi to Srinagar encountered a sudden hailstorm en route. The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol, and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar.

'The airport team attended to the customers after the arrival of the aircraft, prioritising their wellbeing and comfort. The aircraft will be released post-necessary inspection and maintenance.'

A sudden hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain hit Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening, causing a rapid change in weather conditions.

The India Meteorological Department attributed the shift to a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and nearby areas, embedded within an east-west trough extending from Punjab to Bangladesh at lower tropospheric levels.

Turbulence is yet to cause a plane to crash. However, passengers are often injured - or even killed - by the violent force of the plane being shaken.