Roof collapse at Delhi airport’s Terminal 1: Here’s all you need to know

29/06/2024

A portion of a roof at Terminal-1 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed on cars under heavy rainfall and winds Friday, killing one person and injuring around eight others. All flight departures from terminal were also temporarily suspended.

The incident occurred as the national capital received incessant rains. The Safdarjung weather station recorded 153.7 mm of rainfall, which began around 3 am.

Here's all you need to know:

1) Which part of the Delhi airport collapse?

A portion of the canopy at the departures area of Delhi airport's terminal 1 collapsed at 5 a.m. (2330 GMT), a statement from the airport on X said.

2) Who owns the Delhi International Airport?

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is a joint venture, formed as a consortium between GMR Airports Limited (Subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited) (64 per cent), Airports Authority of India retains 26 per cent stakes, and Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (10 per cent).

3) Which flights stand cancelled?

While all IndiGo flights to and from T1 are cancelled until 2 pm Friday, Spicejet confirmed cancellation until further notice. Check-in counters are also closed as a safety measure.

4) Can passengers inside the airport board flights?

Passengers who were already inside the terminal are said to have boarded their flights.

"Passengers already inside the terminal will be able to board their planned flights, but those with flights later in the day will be offered alternatives,” Indigo airlines said in a statement following the structural damage. The airlines also urged passengers to track their website to know the details about alternate flights and information regarding refund process.

5) What has the Union Aviation Minister said?

The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu took to X to inform that he was personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1. “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,” he wrote in the post.

The minister also clarified that the portion of the roof which collapsed is not the one inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "...we are taking this incident seriously...I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009," he added speaking to mediapersons on Friday morning.

6) Which areas of Delhi are waterlogged?

In a post on X, the Delhi traffic police said, "Traffic is affected on Outer Ring Road in both carriageways from Shantivan towards ISBT and vice-versa due to waterlogging near Y-Point Saleemgarh and Nigambodh Ghat. Kindly plan your journey accordingly." Traffic at ITO, Vir Banda Bairagi Marg, Dhaula Kuan were also affected due to waterlogging.

7) What has the IMD said?

Owing to the intense spells of rain, IMD officials issued an advisory to look out for slippers roads, low visibility, traffic disruption and localized waterlogging in low lying areas. It warned against visiting areas with waterlogging, urge to check traffic congestion along routes and be updated with weather warning.

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