At least one person died and around six were injured after a portion of the roof of the Delhi airport's Terminal-1 fell on cars, including cabs, amid heavy rains in the early hours of Friday, according to officials and media reports.
Support beams collapsed too, on cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal.
#WATCH | 4 people were injured after a roof collapsed at the Terminal-1 of Delhi airport.
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024
(Video source - Delhi Fire Service) pic.twitter.com/Uc0qTNnMKe
This came hours after a portion of a canopy of the new terminal building of Jabalpur airport in Madhya Pradesh fell on a car after rain. The car belonged to an income tax official. No one was injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, the injured have been taken to hospital and a search is underway to ensure no one is trapped in the damaged vehicles. Of these, one was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen, fire officials told news agency PTI.
Three fire-tenders were sent to the airport after a call about the incident was received by the Delhi fire service around 5.30 am, The Hindu reported. The paper also reported there were three casualties.
“Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected,” an airport spokesperson told the paper. “As a result of this incident, all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. We sincerely regret this disruption and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
“At around 5 am, due to heavy rains, the shed outside Terminal 1 of IGIA (domestic airport), spanning from Departure Gate No. 1 to Gate No. 2, collapsed, in which around four vehicles have been damaged and around six persons have been injured and one person has died. All injured persons are stable. Delhi police, fire service, CISF & NDRF teams are present on spot. Legal action is being taken,” said DCP (IGI) Usha Rangnani.
In a post on X, civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu said that he is personally monitoring the situation. He also announced a Rs 20 lakh compensation for the deceased, and Rs 3 lakh for the injured.
Naidu said: “Terminal 1 has been completely evacuated. It could take until tomorrow to resume operations and carry out inspections”
Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing.
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024
The Delhi traffic police said terminal 1 departure is non-functional and passengers headed to the airport must use the arrival section. Visuals circulated by the media showed water pouring from the collapsed roof and a taxi stuck under a pillar, even as rain continued to pelt down in several parts of the national capital, leading to inundated roads and traffic jams.
Traffic Alert
— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) June 28, 2024
Canopy outbreak at Terminal 1 Departure. Terminal 1 Departure is non-functional. All passengers heading towards Terminal 1 shall use arrival of Terminal 1. Also there is waterlogging at Mehram Nagar underpass towards Terminal 3. Passengers are advised to avoid this…
Meanwhile, several opposition leaders hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident, saying an “incomplete terminal” was hurriedly inaugurated in March with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls.
On March 11 2024 as part of His election campaign if I recall during His inaguration spree. https://t.co/JtAN5gu8BI
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 28, 2024
PM Modi had on March 10 inaugurated or laid the foundation stone of 15 airport projects across the country which are worth more than Rs 9,800 crore. Among these was the expanded Terminal 1.
Aviation minister Naidu said that the roof that collapsed “was constructed during 2008-09. The part of the building inaugurated by the PM is on the other side”.
Literally took the last flight from Delhi Terminal 1
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) June 28, 2024
What a shame! This terminal was refurbished barely few months ago, looked so swanky inside
*Roof of Delhi Airport Terminal 1 comes crashing, crushes cab driver while in his car. 3 drivers in hospital. All flight… pic.twitter.com/92vgNJTF2t
Several social media users expressed shock over the incident, including those who claimed to have used the Delhi airport recently.
Update at 10:50 am: This report has been updated with additional information about compensation announced by the civil aviation minister.
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