Delhi’s Terminal 1, the country’s largest domestic terminal, experienced a significant disruption on June 28th when its roof collapsed due to torrential rainfall. The incident resulted in the cancellation of over 95 flights, with Indigo canceling 80 and SpiceJet canceling 15. Terminal 1 typically handles approximately 190 to 200 arrivals and departures per day. The Ministry of Civil Aviation, under the leadership of Ram Mohan Naidu, has announced an investigation into other airports to prevent similar incidents. Naidu emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that the ministry will conduct thorough checks of all relevant airports and potentially establish an internal body to oversee such safety measures.
Delhi International Airport’s Terminal 1, according to data from its official website, boasts the capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually. The airport facilitated 4,56,183 flights during the 2023-24 fiscal year. Indigo and SpiceJet are the primary domestic airlines operating out of this terminal. The terminal recently underwent upgrades, including the installation of DigiYatra gates, as detailed on the GMR Group website.
GMR Airport Infrastructure shares experienced a decline of 2.74 percent, closing at ₹96.5 on June 28th, down from ₹99.23 on June 27th. The downpour in Delhi was exceptionally heavy, with Reuters reporting that the airport area received 148.5 millimeters (5.85 inches) of rain within a three-hour span, exceeding the average rainfall for the entire month of June. Safdarjung, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded a remarkable 228.1 mm (9 inches) of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. (0300 GMT), marking the highest 24-hour rainfall in June in 88 years.
The incident resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. Mint reported, based on anonymous sources, that the Delhi Police will lead the investigation to determine the cause of the structural collapse and identify those responsible for maintaining the terminal’s safety.
