The canopy and a huge metal beam at the pick-up and drop area outside Delhi airport’s terminal 1 collapsed this morning, amid heavy rain
The Delhi airport roof collapse, which resulted in one death and six injuries, is being treated as a “very serious incident,” according to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. He stated that the aviation regulator DGCA will conduct a thorough investigation.
This morning, amid heavy rain, the canopy and a large metal beam in the pick-up and drop-off area outside Terminal 1 of Delhi airport collapsed. Consequently, all flights operating from Terminal 1 have been suspended. The Civil Aviation Minister assured that passengers affected by flight cancellations will receive a full refund.
When reporters noted that some of the beams appeared to be rusted, Mr. Naidu responded, “It is too early to comment on that. We have instructed the airport administration to conduct an inspection. The ministry and the DGCA will also carry out separate investigations.”
According to government sources, the Terminal 1 canopy that collapsed today was constructed in 2008-09. The work was outsourced by GMR to private contractors, as reported by NDTV.
Shortly after the morning’s incident, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged that the affected terminal had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Kharge alleged, “Corruption and criminal negligence are to blame for the collapse of substandard infrastructure, which has been crumbling like a deck of cards over the past 10 years of the Modi government.”
The Civil Aviation Minister highlighted the “misinformation” in Mr. Kharge’s statement, clarifying that PM Modi had inaugurated a different building, not Terminal 1. He noted that the canopy was constructed and inaugurated during the tenure of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.