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Early Friday morning, a tragic event took place at Delhi Airport's Terminal-1. Just a few months after its renovation, part of the roof came crashing down due to heavy rain. This unfortunate incident led to the death of one person and left five others injured. As a result, flight departures from Terminal-1 were suspended until 2 pm.
According to PTI, At around 5 am, during heavy rain, the roof of Terminal-1 at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport collapsed. The falling debris crushed several cars, including taxis, parked in the pick-up and drop-off area. Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials conducted a search operation to ensure no one was trapped in the damaged vehicles.
Three fire tenders were dispatched to the airport after DFS received a call about the incident at around 5:30 am. Along with the roof sheet, the support beams also collapsed, causing severe damage to the parked cars. Six people were injured and were quickly taken to Medanta Hospital near the airport. Sadly, one of the injured people did not survive. One person was rescued from a car hit by a falling iron beam.
Traffic and Flight Disruptions
Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani announced that traffic heading to Terminal-1 departure has been diverted at the CISF check post towards Terminal-1 arrival. Flight departures from Terminal-1 were suspended until 2 pm after the roof collapse. Passengers who were already inside the terminal managed to board their flights, but all other departures were halted by 7:30 am. Flight arrivals were not affected.
Official Statements and Response
A spokesperson for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) stated that heavy rain caused part of the canopy at the old departure forecourt of Terminal-1 to collapse around 5 am. Emergency personnel were on the scene right away to provide assistance and medical aid to those affected. The spokesperson expressed deep regret for the disruption and apologized for any inconvenience caused. They added that all departures from Terminal-1 are temporarily suspended and check-in counters have been closed for safety.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he is closely monitoring the situation. He mentioned that the injured have been taken to the hospital and that rescue operations are still ongoing. He also advised airlines to assist all affected passengers at Terminal-1.
In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said that flight operations are affected due to structural damage at Terminal-1 caused by adverse weather conditions. This has led to flight cancellations in Delhi, as passengers cannot enter the terminal. Passengers already inside the terminal can board their planned flights, but those with later flights will be offered alternatives. The spokesperson also noted that the unexpected situation has led to disruptions across their network and advised customers to check and confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.
SpiceJet also announced on X that flights have been cancelled, stating that Terminal-1 will remain partially closed for operations until further notice.
The roof collapse caused significant inconvenience to passengers. Those already at the terminal managed to catch their flights, but others faced cancellations and delays. With departures suspended until 2 pm and possible further disruptions, many passengers had to make alternative arrangements or reschedule their flights.
