Delhiites woke up to a welcome respite from the scorching heat on Friday morning, with heavy rainfall and gentle breezes. However, the showery weather brought chaos to Delhi Airport Terminal 1, where a roof collapse occurred, crushing cars and cabs, leading to one fatality and six injuries. The downpour also inundated parts of the city and the national capital region (Delhi-NCR).
The incident took place around 5 a.m. at the departure area of Terminal 1 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi amidst the heavy rainfall. Investigations into the Delhi airport roof collapse have been ordered, and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced a thorough inspection of the airport’s structure.
The minister announced financial assistance, providing ₹20 lakh to the family of the deceased and ₹3 lakh for each injured person. Terminal 1 has been temporarily closed, and the situation is being monitored.
Following the incident, SpiceJet and IndiGo suspended flight operations at Terminal 1. SpiceJet arrivals and departures from Terminal 1 are being shifted to T3, while IndiGo’s services are being distributed amongst T2 and T3.
Naidu further stated that the structure that collapsed on Friday morning was opened in 2009, and the airport operator DIAL has been directed to inspect it. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will supervise the inspection and provide a report.
A DIAL spokesperson stated that emergency personnel are working to provide necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected by the Delhi airport roof collapse.
Opposition leaders criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Delhi airport roof collapse incident at Terminal 1, terming it a “failure” of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Congress MP Manoj Tiwari stated, “Just like what the condition has been of ‘Modi Empire’, Terminal-1 has collapsed like that only. For 10 years it was under their upkeeping, despite that it couldn’t sustain the first rain. Modi govt will meet a similar fate, they are fully responsible for it.”
TMC MP Saugata Roy added, “It is a failure of the Ministry of Civil Aviation… Civil Aviation Minister should issue a statement on the same and tell us what remedial steps are being taken.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge blamed “corruption” and “criminal negligence” for the Delhi Airport roof collapse incident. He alleged that the PM inaugurated the portion that collapsed on March 10.
