 "Delhi airport roof collapse: Is it a case of shoddy infrastructure or heavy rains?")
One person died and five others were injured after a portion of the roof of the Delhi airport’s Terminal-One collapsed on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rain early Friday.
The tragic incident has led to the suspension of flight departures, according to PTI, which quoted officials.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was monitoring the situation and the injured had been hospitalised.
However, the incident has also triggered an intense blame game between the Congress and the BJP.
Let’s take a closer look.
The rooftop collapse
According to the news agency, three fire tenders were rushed to Terminal One of the airport after a call about the incident was received around 5.30 am.
Besides the roof sheet, the support beams collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop-off area of the terminal.
As per Al Jazeera, the airport authority said the collapse had been caused by “heavy rain."
“Emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected,” said the authority in a statement.
A search operation was conducted to make sure no one was trapped inside the damaged vehicles, they said. The injured persons have been admitted to Medanta Hospital near the airport.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDelhi Airport, managed by GMR Group, faces scrutiny after a tragic incident. One person has died, and several are injured. Is this the infrastructure of a leading economy's capital? GMR Group must answer! #DelhiAirport #GMRGroup#DelhiRains #Roofcollapse #terminal1 pic.twitter.com/4MPPjul5MQ
— Vikram Singh (@Vi_kram92) June 28, 2024
Of the five injured, one person was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen, they added.
Work was underway to clear the debris.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Usha Rangnani said due to heavy rains, the shed outside Terminal-One of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, spanning from departure gate number one to gate number two, collapsed around 5 am, damaging four vehicles.
Teams of Delhi Police, DFS, Central Industrial Security Force and National Disaster Response Force are present at the spot, the DCP said.
In a post on X, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said, “Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing.”
Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing.
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024
PTI sources said flight departures at T1, which handles only domestic flight operations, have been suspended till 2 pm and the airport operator is looking to temporarily shift operations to T2 and T3.
The flight departures were suspended soon after the roof collapse incident. Passengers who were already inside the terminal boarded their flights, they said.
The suspension of departures at the terminal also led to the cancellation of some flights.
In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said flight operations are impacted due to structural damage at T1 due to adverse weather conditions.
“This has led to flight cancellations in Delhi as passengers are not able to enter the terminal. Passengers already inside the terminal will be able to board their planned flights, but those with flights later in the day will be offered alternatives,” the airline said in a statement.
SpiceJet said in a post on X that flights have been cancelled as T1 will remain partially closed for operations until further notice.
The blame-game
The Congress on Friday hit out at the Modi government over the Delhi airport roof collapse, saying “corruption” and “criminal negligence” is responsible for the shoddy infrastructure created in the last 10 years.
“Corruption and criminal negligence is responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Government,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.
Corruption and criminal negligence is responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 28, 2024
⏬Delhi Airport (T1) roof collapse,
⏬Jabalpur airport roof collapse,
⏬Abysmal condition of Ayodhya's new roads,
⏬Ram…
“Delhi Airport (T1) roof collapse, Jabalpur airport roof collapse, Abysmal condition of Ayodhya’s new roads, Ram Mandir leakage, cracks in Mumbai Trans Harbour Link road, 13 new bridges falling down in Bihar in 2023 and 204, Pragati Maidan Tunnel submerging, Morbi bridge collapse tragedy in Gujarat, … are some stark instances which exposes the tall claims by Modi ji and BJP of creating “World Class Infrastructure,” he said.
He said on 10 March, when PM Modi inaugurated the Delhi Airport T1, he called himself “Doosri mitti ka insaan…”
“All this false bravado and rhetoric was only reserved for quickly indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies before Elections. Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy. They bore the brunt of a Corrupt, Inept and Selfish Government,” Kharge charged.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “This is the corrupt model of BJP of “taking donations and giving business” which has now been exposed. The question is whether the Prime Minister will take responsibility for these substandard construction works marked by corruption.”
“Is the veil finally lifting from BJPs Chanda lo, Chanda lo corruption model,” she asked.
➡️ मार्च में प्रधानमंत्री जी ने दिल्ली एयरपोर्ट टर्मिनल-1 का उद्घाटन किया था, आज उसकी छत ढह गई जिसमें एक कैब ड्राइवर की दुखद मृत्यु हो गई।
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 28, 2024
➡️ तीन महीने पहले प्रधानमंत्री जी ने जिस जबलपुर एयरपोर्ट का उद्घाटन किया था, उसकी भी छत ढह गई।
➡️ अयोध्या में निर्माण कार्यों के…
BJP’s clarification
Civil Aviation minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu and BJP leader Amit Malviya debunked Congress’s claim by saying that the building inaugurated by PM Modi is on the other side and the building collapsed here is an old building, which was opened in 2009, according to ANI.
“We are taking this incident seriously… I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009,” the minister said.
“The part of T1 that collapsed was opened in 2009 when Congress-led UPA was in power. In those days there was no concept of quality check and contracts were given to whoever sent the biggest kickback of the ruling Congress. Sonia Gandhi, who was then the super PM, must answer,” Malviya said.
Spell of heavy rains in Delhi
In the last 24 hours, Delhi has received 228.1 millimetres of rain, making it one of the wettest spells the city has experienced since June, according to another report by India Today.
According to IMD data, there were 148.5 millimetres of rainfall in the city today between 2.30 and 5.30 am at the Safdarjung Observatory, the main meteorological station.
Rain earlier on Thursday caused Delhi’s temperature to drop to 35.4 degrees Celsius. Notably, Delhi has been experiencing extreme heatwaves — there have been nine heatwave days in June so far, compared to none in 2023 and 2022.
Pre-monsoon showers also helped to rid Delhi’s air of sooty pollutants; according to the Central Pollution Control Board, the National Capital recorded its first “satisfactory” 24-hour average air quality (AQI) level in 282 days.
The IMD reported yesterday, the monsoon will hit the capital within the next two to three days.
According to the report, as the scorching conditions have decreased nationwide, favourable circumstances are being seen for the southwest monsoon to continue advancing into a few more areas of North India.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
