One person has succumbed to his injuries after the roof at Terminal 1 of Delhi airport fell on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rains in the early hours of Friday. Five more people were injured in the incident and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Three fire-tenders were sent to the airport after a call about the incident was received by the DFS around 5:30 am.
NDRF team has cleared debris at Delhi airport’s T1 where the roof collapsed.
An airport spokesperson earlier said flight departures at Terminal-1 have been suspended till 2 pm following the roof collapse incident. Delhi Police in an alert informed that both arrivals and departure at the Terminal 1 of Delhi airport have been halted temporarily.
They said, "Due to canopy breakout at Departure, T1(Terminal 1) Delhi Airport, operations at Terminal 1, both arrival and departure have been halted. Flights of T1 have been diverted to T2 (Terminal 2) and T3 (Terminal 3). Passengers are advised to be in contact with their Airlines for complete information."
DGCA in a statement said, "Airlines have been advised to accommodate passengers on alternate flights or provide full refunds under the regulations."
The officials told PTI that a search operation is underway to make sure no one else is trapped in the damaged vehicles.
Of the six, one was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen, the officials said.
Besides the roof sheet, the support beams also collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal, the officials said.
All the injured persons have been hospitalised, they said.
In a post on X, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said that he is personally monitoring the situation and the injured people have been shifted to hospital.
"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," he said.
A DIAL spokesperson in a statement said, "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, the spokesperson said all departures from Terminal-1 are temporarily suspended and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure.
Flight arrivals have not been impacted.
The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a consortium led by GMR Group, is the operator of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital.
Terminal-1 has only domestic flight operations. The IGIA airport has three terminals -- T1, T2 and T3.
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