At around 5:00 am on Friday, there was a heavy downpour in Delhi reflecting negatively on Terminal 1 at Indira Gandhi International Airport where a fracas took place this early hour on the departure forecourt when a section of the roof came off. This led to 1 death and interruption of the local flights.
According to reports, at least one person was confirmed dead, with eight others injured. It has been suggested by sources that the airport authority is considering moving some functions from Terminal 1 to Terminals 2 and 3 for managing departures. Passengers are hereby advised to remain in contact with their airlines so they can stay updated on the status of flights as well as possible rescheduling.
Attributed to the relentless downpour battering the national capital since morning is the main cause behind the collapse of the roof. In the past 24 hours, the main weather station in the country’s capital recorded a substantial 228.1 mm of rainfall. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an advisory showing that there is the likelihood of light, moderate as well as heavy rains causing floods or clogging streets with mud due to poor drainage.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the airport operator, took immediate action to contain the situation. As a safety measure, all flight departures from Terminal 1 were suspended until 2 pm. Check-in counters were also closed to prevent further risk.
The closure significantly impacted domestic flights handled by Terminal 1. Airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet were forced to cancel departures until further notice. However, passengers who were already inside the terminal at the time of the incident were allowed to board their scheduled flights.
On his official Twitter account, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, informed the public that the situation is now under control. He disclosed that first responders were already there, advising airlines to help affected passengers. Meanwhile, the injured victims have been taken to hospitals as further rescue operations continue to take place.
The need for robust maintenance of infrastructure facilities is being highlighted by this incident happening to critical locations such as airports. The heavy monsoon rains clearly indicate that it is necessary to be well-prepared for calamities caused by harsh climatic conditions. Though the extent of devastation in Terminal 1 is yet to be established, investigations must be carried out so that the actual cause of the crash is known, and measures put in place to avoid occurrences of such an accident in future.
