Portion of Newly Revamped T1 of Delhi Airport Collapsed after heavy rains, 1 dead and several injured

A portion of the newly revamped Terminal 1 at Delhi airport collapsed early on Friday morning, killing one driver. At least five others were injured after portion of the roof outside the departure gates collapsed on vehicles parked outside, following incessant rains, the season’s first heavy downpour. T1 operates only domestic departures. “All departures from T1 are temporarily suspended.

"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”, read a statement issued by Delhi Airport. 

The T1 of the Delhi airport was revamped by GMR group under Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a joint venture, “formed as a consortium between GMR Airports Limited (Subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited) (64%), Airports Authority of India (26%), and Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (10%)”. The revamped T1 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 1o, 2024, virtually, ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. 

The newly elected Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was "personally monitoring" the roof collapse incident and that the injured have been hospitalised. "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," Kinjarapu wrote on ‘X’. As videos and pictures surfaced from the site, poles supporting the canopy outside the airport, as part of the forecourt extension, had collapsed and fallen on several vehicles parked outside. One picture showed a pole fallen on the roof of a vehicle, taking down the driver seated inside.