The main Delhi airport in the Indian capital experienced a partial roof collapse owing to severe rains, resulting in the cancellation of several domestic flights and the death of at least one person.
The incident happened at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi early on Friday. According to civil aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, who confirmed the tragedy, authorities evacuated Terminal 1 and cancelled flights till 2pm (08:30 GMT).
The fall at the domestic departure portion of the terminal injured at least eight individuals, according to Delhi Fire Services director Atul Garg.
Broadcast footage from the terminal, which is primarily utilized by low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet for domestic flights, showed a cab crushed by a broken metal pillar at the entrance area.
Inspecting the T1 Terminal and reviewing with the officials.
All required rescue operations are being conducted at the terminal pic.twitter.com/6ck4ce39RY— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024
According to the airport administration, “heavy rain” was the cause of the collapse at 5 a.m. on Thursday (23:30 GMT).
The authority released a statement saying, “Emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected.”
Along with the roof, a few support beams gave way, causing damage to cars in the terminal’s pick-up and drop-off area, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.
India’s weather office said that the airport region received approximately 148.5mm of rain over three hours in the early morning, more than the normal for the entire month of June. Following a protracted period of heatwaves, the annual monsoon caused flooding in many other areas of the capital.
The incident happened months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened an airport renovation project. The airport is regarded as one of his most notable infrastructural undertakings.
Concerns about safety and building regulations persist throughout the nation. Reporters were informed by Naidu on the site that the Modi-inaugurated building was “on the other side” of the older building whose roof had collapsed. The previous structure had opened in 2009.
The minister announced that an investigation into the collapse has been mandated.
Following the event, opposition lawmakers attacked the prime minister, charging that he was on a “inauguration spree” in advance of this month’s votes.
“Will the Chief Inauguration Minister accept accountability for this subpar building job and this dishonest model?” stated Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the opposition Congress party’s general secretary.
