Heavy Rain in Delhi Leads to Terminal Roof Collapse at Airport, Causing Death Of 1 person

Heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed the Indian capital early Friday morning, disrupting daily life and tragically leading to the death of one person and injuring eight others at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport). The person who passed away has been identified as Ramesh Kumar, who was 45 years old.

(Photo credit: ANI) Heavy Rain in Delhi Leads to Terminal Roof Collapse at Airport, Causing Death Of 1 person 

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The airport authority stated that a portion of the canopy at the domestic departure area of Terminal 1, the airport's main terminal, collapsed around 5 am. The collapse, attributed to the heavy rain, which had reached 148.5mm over a three-hour period - more than the average for the entire month of June, caused the canopy and some support beams to fall, injuring people present in the area. that the roof collapse was caused by the heavy rainfall.

Rescue Efforts and Response

Emergency personnel, including fire and rescue services, rushed to the scene to assist those affected. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Flight operations from Terminal 1 were temporarily suspended to allow for rescue efforts and a safety assessment. The rescue team has finished their work, and eight injured people have been taken to the hospital, according to Atul Garg, the director of the Delhi Fire Service.

#WATCH | "A roof collapsed at Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. 3 fire tenders were rushed to the spot", says an official from Delhi Fire Services

(Video source - Delhi Fire Services) pic.twitter.com/qdRiSFrctv

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024

Official Statements

Officials expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased and assured swift action. The Civil Aviation Minister called the incident "very serious" and has ordered a thorough investigation. A spokesperson for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operator of IGI Airport, issued a statement confirming the incident and stating that all necessary assistance and medical aid were being provided to those affected. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has arrived at Delhi Airport to check on things. "All required rescue operations are being conducted at the terminal," the Minister said. "Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at the site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing," the Minister posted on X.

Delhi Airport is generously offering an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the person who tragically lost their life in the roof collapse incident. Additionally, those who were injured will receive a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each.

How has this incident impacted flight schedules and operations at the airport

The roof collapse at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 1 has severely disrupted flight operations, leading to widespread cancellations and suspensions. "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. 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 apologize for any inconvenience caused,” said Delhi Airport in a statement. 

All departures from Terminal 1, which primarily handles domestic flights by airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet, have been suspended until 2 PM as a safety measure. Check-in counters at the terminal have also been closed.

IndiGo, one of the major carriers operating from Terminal 1, has cancelled all flights to and from the terminal due to the partial closure. Airlines are working closely with airport authorities to manage the situation and assist affected passengers. "Due to the unforeseen situation at T1 this morning, all flights from #DelhiAirport T1 have been cancelled until 0000 hrs, June 29. Further, flights due to arrive at T1, will now arrive either at T2 or T3 in #Delhi…While we are communicating real-time updates, we appreciate your patience and support during these extraordinary times,” IndiGo said on X ( formerly Twitter). 

Passengers scheduled to fly from Terminal 1 today are advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport, as alternative arrangements or rescheduling may be necessary. The airport authority has stated that all departing and arriving flights from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 are fully operational.

The collapse has severely impacted flight operations at Terminal 1, leading to widespread disruptions and cancellations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse to determine if there are any structural issues at the terminal.

Impact of Rain

The heavy rain caused disruptions beyond the airport, with reports of waterlogging in various parts of Delhi. Traffic movement was also affected due to flooded roads. Some of the areas that have become waterlogged are Bhikaji Cama Place, Madhu Vihar, Pragati Maidan, Munirka, Teen Murti Marg, Moolchand, Minto Road, Anand Vihar, Mehrauli Badarpur Road, Mandawali, Dhaula Kuan, Moti Bagh, ITO, and several sectors in the Gautam Budh Nagar.