NEW DELHI: At least one person died while 6 others sustained injuries after a portion of a roof at the Delhi airport's Terminal-1 collapsed amid heavy overnight rains, officials said on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Ramesh Kumar (45).
Sharing details, Delhi Fire Service Director Atul Garg said they received information about the incident at 5.30 am following which 4 fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot.
At the Airport, the firemen saw that a portion of the roof had collapsed on some cars in the pick-and-drop area due to which a few people were trapped while some others had sustained injuries.
The injured were rushed to Medanta Hospital while a rescue operation was initiated for the people who got trapped under the heavy structure of the roof. A cab driver who was sitting in his parked car was among the trapped persons as an iron beam of the roof had fallen on his car.
"We removed seven people in injured condition from the Airport and shifted them to Medanta Hospital through PCR vans. One among the seven, one was taken out in dead condition," Garg said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI-A) Usha Rangnani said the shed outside Terminal 1 of IGIA (domestic airport), spanning from Departure Gate No. 1 to Gate No. 2, had collapsed due to the rains.
"Around 4 vehicles were damaged and around 6 persons have been injured while one person has died. All injured persons are stable," Rangnani said.
She said multiple teams of the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, Central Industrial Security Force, and NDRF are present on the spot. "Legal action is being taken," the DCP said.
Meanwhile, traffic was also diverted at the Airport following the incident. The officer said that traffic going to Terminal 1 departure of the Airport has been diverted at CISF check post, toward Arrival of Terminal 1.
The incident led to the disruption of flight services till 2 pm. The Delhi Airport officials, meanwhile, informed that all departing flights from Terminal 3 and 2 are fully operational. "Flights at Terminal 1 are also operating. However, the departing flights from T1 are canceled till 2 pm today," the official said.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has reached Delhi Airport to take stock of the situation. "All required rescue operations are being conducted at the terminal," the Minister said.
The city received heavy rainfall on the intervening night of June 27-28, bringing a respite from the hot weather, yet, disrupting the normal life of the residents as massive traffic jams were reported all over the city.
The commuters had a hard time as the heavy rains also led to severe water logging in several parts of the city. A senior Delhi Traffic police official told this newspaper that calls of traffic congestion, waterlogging, and uprooting of trees were received in the Traffic Control Room.
Some of the areas that have been waterlogged are -- Teen Murti Marg, Moolchand, Minto Road, Anand Vihar, Mehrauli Badarpur Road, Mandawali, Bhikaji Cama Place, Madhu Vihar, Pragati Maidan, Munirka, Dhaula Kuan, Moti Bagh, ITO, and several sectors in the Gautam Budh Nagar.
Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu earlier said he was personally monitoring the situation at the Delhi Airport.
"Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at the site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing," the Minister posted on X.
Delhi Airport is said to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased who lost his life in the roof collapse incident. Also, the injured persons would get a compensation sum of Rs 3 lakh each.
India’s largest airline IndiGo has cancelled all its flights from Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport till Friday midnight following the fatal roof falling incident. All IndiGo flights that were due to arrive at T1 will now arrive at Terminal 2 or Terminal 3 of the airport.
“Due to the unforeseen situation at T1 this morning, all flights from #DelhiAirport T1 have been cancelled until 0000 hrs, June 29. Further, flights due to arrive at T1, will now arrive either at T2 or T3 in #Delhi…While we are communicating real-time updates, we appreciate your patience and support during these extraordinary times,” IndiGo said on X ( formerly Twitter).
Indigo had earlier reassured passengers that they will assist them with alternate flight options or a full refund.
SpiceJet, the other airline that operates from Terminal 1, had earlier said that its flights have been cancelled from Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport. It added “SpiceJet flights departing from Terminal 1 are being re-accommodated to Terminal 3. Necessary information has been communicated to all the passengers via SMS/Email. Due to heavy traffic congestion enroute Delhi Airport, all passengers are requested to ensure sufficient travel time.”
"Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected. As a result of this incident, all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. We sincerely regret this disruption and apologize for any inconvenience caused,” said Delhi Airport in a statement.