Chaos at Delhi Airport: Terminal 1 roof collapse leaves cars buried, 1 dead and flights suspended
Chaos at Delhi Airport: Terminal 1 roof collapse leaves cars buried, 1 dead and flights suspended
A roof collapse at Terminal-1 of Delhi Airport on Friday left several cars covered in debris and resulted in the death of one person and injuries to eight people, according to a fire official. The incident led to the disruption of all flights from Terminal 1.
Flights to and from Terminal 1 have been closed till further notice.
In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, “Heavy rain in early morning today has resulted in the collapse of the canopy of Delhi Airport Terminal 1. As a result of which flights to & from Terminal 1 have been closed till further notice. Alternate arrangements are being made for smooth operation of the flights.”
The entire Terminal 1 has been evacuated. The shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro Station to Terminal 1-IGI Airport was also suspended.
Delhi Airport area receives 148.5 mm rainfall over three hours early morning on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation also sternly asked airlines to accommodate passengers on alternate flights or provide full refunds under the regulations.
The roof that collapsed at the Delhi airport’s terminal 1 was constructed during 2008-09. The work was contracted out by GMR to private contractors, reported PTI quoting government sources.
Expressing condolence Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said, “…A section of the canopy which is outside of the airport has collapsed due to heavy rains. We express our condolence to the life that has been lost in this tragic incident, four people have also been injured. So we are taking care of them right now. We immediately sent the emergency response team, the fire safety team and also the CISF, NDRF teams.”
Naidu added, “Everyone was available at the site and they have done a thorough inspection so that no other casualties are there. So right now the situation is under control. The rest of the terminal building has been closed and everything is being thoroughly inspected so that there is no further untoward incident here.”
Upon receiving the information of the roof collapse, around three fire tenders rushed to the spot.
“Around 5.30 am, we received a call regarding a roof collapse at Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. Three fire engines have been rushed to the spot,” said an official from Delhi Fire Services.
Roof collapse at Delhi Airport
Delhi International Airport Limited spokesperson said,”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.”
The spokesperson added, “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.”
IndiGo and SpiceJet have canceled flights from Terminal 1 due to the partial closure of Delhi Airport caused by heavy rains.
Rains lash Delhi-NCR
The incident occurred when Delhi-NCR was hit by a spell of heavy rains on Friday.
Meanwhile, various regions of Delhi-NCR were spotted by intense waterlogging issues. Visuals show that the Govindpuri area of South Delhi and Noida Sector 95 are engulfed in water logging.
Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region) received incessant rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning beginning in the early hours of Friday.
On Thursday, parts of Delhi received spells of heavy rainfall, bringing much-needed respite from the sweltering heat.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the weather for the next seven days in Delhi, predicting generally cloudy skies and varying intensities of rain accompanied by gusty winds.
As predicted by IMD for June 28, the forecast includes light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, with temperatures similar to the previous day and wind speeds reaching up to 35 km/h.
Weather on June 29 is expected to be slightly cooler, with a high of 36°C and a low of 28°C. The city will likely experience light to moderate rain or thunderstorms with winds reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h. On June 30, temperatures will drop further to 34°C, with moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds.
For July 1 and 2, the IMD forecasts thunderstorms with moderate rain, with temperatures steady at a high of 34°C and a low of 27°C. Wind speeds will continue to vary, maintaining a range of 25-35 km/h.
