New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked all airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfare on flights departing from and arriving in Delhi, following multiple flight cancellations due to the temporary closure of Delhi airport’s T1 terminal after its roof collapsed Friday morning.
At least one person died and eight people were injured after a portion of the roof of the Delhi airport’s Terminal-1 fell and damaged four vehicles, including taxis, amid heavy rains early morning on Friday.
“In view of the unfortunate incident at Terminal T1D IGIA, Delhi, all airlines are advised to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Delhi and take necessary action regarding the same,” the ministry said in a post on X. It added that any cancellations and rescheduling of flights due to the incident should be done without penal charges.
After the roof collapse at the Delhi airport’s Terminal-1, all departures from T1 were cancelled till 2 pm, and the flights that were to arrive and depart post 2 pm are now being operated from Terminal 2 or 3.
Following the incident, the government has asked aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to carry out a “high-level enquiry” into the incident. Additionally, the government will carry out a “detailed structural inspection” of airports across the country.
A Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson added that DIAL has formed a technical committee to investigate the cause of the incident and will give its report as soon as possible.
The spokesperson added that the airport is working with all relevant agencies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Delhi Police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), to assess the situation and restore normal operations.
“While the cause for the collapse is being assessed, the primary cause seems to be the continued heavy rainfall over the past few hours. As per the Indian Meteorological Department, Delhi Safdarjung recorded massive 228.1mm of rain in the last 24 hours (mainly in the early morning hours of today). This is the highest 24 hours rain in Delhi in June after 1936, the average rainfall in the area in the last 30 years is 75.2 mm,” the spokesperson added.
In a statement, Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that a thorough examination of the terminal’s structure will be conducted by experts to ensure safety. In response to this incident, all relevant agencies, including DGCA, BCAS, CIST, Delhi Police, and NDRE, have been working in close coordination and putting their best efforts, the minister said.
The minister also assured that all passengers will receive full refund for their cancelled flights or will have the option to rebook alternative flights.
Additionally, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in a post on X informed about the DGCA inquiry and the structural inspection planned at other airports.
I inspected the roof collapse site of Terminal 1 of the Delhi airport.
Key decisions, made in collaboration with Ram Mohan Naidu ji, have been put into action.
-All the injured are being carefully attended to.
-A compensation of INR 20 lakh for the deceased and INR 3 lakh for… pic.twitter.com/7tBTXlG1ER
— Murlidhar Mohol (@mohol_murlidhar) June 28, 2024
Both the ministers mentioned that the situation was being closely monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.
The incident in Delhi occurred a day after a similar incident in Dumna Airport in Jabalpur where part of the roof in front of the expanded new terminal building caved in, crushing a car. However, the occupants had exited the vehicle, moments before the mishap.
Both the Delhi T1 terminal and the Jabalpur airport terminal were recently revamped and virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March this year. The aviation minister, however, has clarified that the Delhi T1 structure that collapsed was built in 2009, and is not in the building inaugurated by PM Modi.
The Minister added that the entire terminal was been evacuated, following the incident, and it is likely that it will open up only tomorrow after a thorough inspection.
The Delhi Airport has announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased, and Rs 3 lakh each to those injured.
Meanwhile, President of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the government, saying that the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy “bore the brunt of a Corrupt, Inept and Selfish Govt” in an X post.
He added that corruption and criminal negligence is behind shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, highlighting the roof collapses at the Delhi and Jabalpur airports. He also pointed out the poor condition of the roads in Ayodhya, the roof leakage at Ram Mandir, the cracks in Mumbai Trans Harbour Link road, and the waterlogging in the Pragati Maidan Tunnel after the Friday rainfall.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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