A portion of the canopy at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 collapsed early Friday morning amid heavy rainfall, resulting in the tragic death of one individual and injuries to four others. In response to this unfortunate event, Union Minister of Civil Aviation K Ram Mohan Naidu announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh each for the injured.
Minister Naidu emphasised that the incident is being taken very seriously by the authorities. He clarified that the collapsed building is an old structure, opened in 2009, and is separate from the newly inaugurated terminal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is on the other side of the airport.
He extended his condolences to the affected families, stating, "We express our condolences to the life that has been lost in this tragic incident. Four people have also been injured, and we are taking care of them right now." The minister assured that all necessary measures are being taken to address the situation and prevent any further incidents.
Immediately following the collapse, emergency response teams, including the fire safety team, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were dispatched to the site. "We immediately sent the emergency response team, the fire safety team, and also the CISF and NDRF teams. Everyone was available at the site, and they have conducted a thorough inspection to ensure no other casualties," said Naidu.
In light of the incident, all flight operations from Terminal 1 have been suspended until further notice. The Ministry of Civil Aviation released a statement confirming the suspension and detailing the ongoing efforts to manage the situation. "Heavy rain in the early morning today has resulted in the collapse of the canopy of Delhi Airport Terminal 1. As a result, flights to and from Terminal 1 have been closed until further notice. Alternate arrangements are being made for the smooth operation of flights," read the statement.
The minister further assured that the rest of the terminal building is being thoroughly inspected to ensure safety and prevent any further untoward incidents. "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," Naidu added.
This incident highlights the impact of severe weather conditions on infrastructure and the importance of maintaining and regularly inspecting older structures to prevent such tragedies.
The swift response from emergency services and the proactive measures taken by the authorities demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and staff at the airport.
As investigations continue and repairs are made, passengers are advised to stay updated on flight operations and follow any new guidelines issued by the airport authorities.
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