A portion of a roof at Terminal-1 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed on cars under heavy rainfall and winds on June 28, killing one person and injuring around eight others.
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident that occurred at Terminal 1, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the portion of the canopy that collapsed was inaugurated by PM Modi on March 10.
Responding to these remarks, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the roof that collapsed at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 was constructed during 2008-09.
#WATCH | On portion of canopy collapsed at Delhi airport's Terminal-1, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu says, "…we are taking this incident seriously…I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the… pic.twitter.com/ahb6d9ujc0
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024
“I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009,” Ram Mohan Naidu, who took stock of the situation at Delhi airport, said.
He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “closely monitoring” the situation and has assured us of full support.
#Update on #Delhi T-1 Incident. pic.twitter.com/7KcrhL9p25
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024
Responding to Congress allegations, BJP’s IT chief Amit Malviya 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 to the ruling Congress. Sonia Gandhi, who was then the super PM, must answer.”
Notably, back in February 2009, the then Delhi Chief Minister and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the terminal at the Indira Gandhi International Airport when Praful Patel was the Civil Aviation Minister.
Government sources said the construction of the affected roof was contracted out by GMR Airports Limited to private contractors.
#WATCH | "A roof collapsed at Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. 3 fire tenders were rushed to the spot", says an official from Delhi Fire Services
(Video source – Delhi Fire Services) pic.twitter.com/qdRiSFrctv
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024
The Union Minister said a nationwide audit would be conducted and announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the deceased and Rs 3 lakh for the injured.
The Minister said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will supervise the inspection and will submit a report. The minister said a thorough checking of all similar structures at airports across the country will be carried out.
#WATCH | Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited Delhi airport's Terminal-1, where a portion of canopy collapsed amid heavy rainfall today, killing one person and injuring several others. pic.twitter.com/2Skd7nvaKp
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024
Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region) received incessant rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning beginning in the early hours of June 28.
On June 27, parts of Delhi received spells of heavy rainfall, bringing much-needed respite from the sweltering heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the weather for the next seven days in Delhi, predicting generally cloudy skies and varying intensities of rain accompanied by gusty winds.
