India (Commonwealth Union)_ Terminal 1 operations at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport came to a halt today following a tragic incident where heavy rain caused a section of the roof to collapse, resulting in one fatality and six injuries. Accordingly, the Civil Aviation Ministry announced the temporary suspension of all domestic flight departures from Terminal 1. The collapse occurred at the pick-up and drop-off area outside Terminal 1, where the canopy and a large metal beam fell on several parked cars during the heavy rain. Injuries were reported, and emergency responders provided necessary assistance and medical aid.
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According to the officials, roof panels and supporting beams collapsed, damaging four cars parked in the terminal’s pick-up and drop-off area at Indira Gandhi International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports. This canopy, constructed during 2008-2009 under private contractor GMR, gave way due to the morning’s heavy rainfall, prompting the closure of flights to and from Terminal 1 until further notice, as stated by the ministry on X. The post on X stated, “Heavy rain in early morning today has resulted in the collapse of the canopy of Delhi airport Terminal 1. As a result of which, flights to and from Terminal 1 have been closed till further notice. Alternate arrangements are being made for smooth operation of the flights”.
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Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, rushed to the airport to inspect the collapsed Terminal 1. He announced that airport operations would temporarily relocate to Terminals 2 and 3. Terming the tragedy a very serious incident, the recently elected minister assured a comprehensive investigation into the airport’s structural integrity to determine the technical causes and other relevant factors. In response to the tragedy, he announced ₹ 20 lakh compensation for the victim’s family and ₹ 3 lakh for the people who were injured. Terminal 1 exclusively handles domestic flights operated by IndiGo and SpiceJet, as part of Delhi Airport’s three-terminal system that manages nearly 1,400 daily flight movements.
The incident was reported to Delhi Fire Services (DFS) at around 5:30 am, and rescue efforts included the extraction of a man from a car hit by a fallen iron beam. Following the tragic incident, IndiGo and SpiceJet immediately responded by cancelling flights due to structural damage at Terminal 1. IndiGo explained that the incident forced flight cancellations in Delhi because passengers could not access the terminal. Passengers already inside could proceed with their flights, while those with later flights were offered alternative arrangements. SpiceJet also cancelled flights indefinitely, advising passengers to monitor their social media channels for updates.
In the meantime, a spokesperson from Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed that heavy morning rain caused a portion of the canopy at the old departure forecourt of Terminal 1 to collapse around 5 am, resulting in reported injuries. Emergency personnel were on-site providing necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected. Accordingly, as a precaution, all flights from Terminal 1 were temporarily suspended, followed by the closure of check-in counters for safety. DIAL also expressed regret for the accident and apologized for the sudden inconvenience that impacted many.
Delhi experienced heavy rain for two days in a row, providing relief from intense heat while causing waterlogging in various parts of the capital. The visuals showed flooded roads and significant traffic congestion, including a submerged car at Minto Road. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, registered 154 mm of rainfall from yesterday until this morning. The rain lowered Delhi’s temperature to 35.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
