DELHI RAINS: OPERATIONS TO REMAIN SUSPENDED TODAY AT DELHI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 1 AFTER ROOF COLLAPSE INCIDENT

Delhi Rains: Operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 1 (T1) will remain suspended on Saturday following the canopy collapse incident yesterday after monsoon arrived with a fury in the national capital. Notably, the collapse impacted approximately 200 daily flights which include arrivals and departures. The heavy downpour on Friday led to several mishaps in the city including this roof collapse accident that killed a 45-year-old cab driver and left eight others injured. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall for the national capital till Sunday.

SpiceJet and IndiGo, the airlines operating from T1, have redirected their flight operations to Terminals 2 and 3 until debris from the incident is cleared. To prevent future occurrences, a special team from IIT Delhi's structural department has been brought in for an initial inspection and based on that necessary action will be taken. Additionally, structural preliminary inspections are being conducted at all airports nationwide, with reports expected within 2-5 days.

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Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for updates on flight schedules and arrangements as efforts continue to restore normal operations at the affected terminal.

The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, responded to the incident, calling it "very tragic." He stated that the situation is now under control.

For passengers whose flights were cancelled, the Minister assured that they will be provided either a refund or an alternate flight within 7 days. He added that special "war rooms" have also been set up at T-2 and T-3 to manage the situation.

"We don't want a similar incident to happen again so we have brought in a special team from IIT Delhi's structural department. They will give an initial inspection report, and based on that necessary action will be taken...to ensure that we are getting a structural preliminary inspection done at all airports, we have sought a report from all the airports across the country within 2-5 days…,” said Naidu as quoted by news agency ANI.

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Meanwhile, the minister took a dig at the opposition, stating that they are spreading "fake news" by claiming the collapsed structure was part of a building inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He clarified that PM Modi had in fact inaugurated a different building in another terminal, which remains intact. The collapsed canopy, he said, was part of a 15-year-old structure that was originally inaugurated in 2009.

The Minister criticised the opposition's attempts to politicize the incident, stating that using such tragic events to take "digs at the government is not a good precedent."

In response to the incident, airlines have been directed not to increase airfares.