Delhi Airport Terminal 1 roof collapse sheds light on its history with rain disasters

Amid heavy rainfall in the capital on Friday, the roof of Terminal 1 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed, resulting in one fatality and six injuries. This incident has sparked a blame game between the Modi government and the opposition.


Political Accusations Amid Tragedy
Following the collapse, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge blamed "corruption and criminal negligence" during the Modi government's tenure for the infrastructure failure.



In response, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu clarified that the collapsed building was an older structure from 2009, distinct from the terminal recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"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 building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009," said the Aviation Minister.


August 2009: Terminal 1D Roof Collapse
In August 2009, Terminal 1D at Delhi airport saw its roof collapse during a thunderstorm with wind speeds exceeding 90 kmph and heavy rain. The incident caused operational halts, malfunctioned systems, and passenger inconvenience, as reported by TOI.

June 2013: Waterlogging Woes
In June 2013, incessant rains caused severe waterlogging at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The poor drainage system and low airport elevation led to water flowing back into Terminal 3, disrupting passenger movement and airport operations.

September 2021: Record Rainfall
Delhi experienced its highest rainfall in 46 years in September 2021, exceeding 1,100 mm. Terminal 3 and other parts of the airport were flooded, necessitating quick drainage system improvements.


Infrastructure Challenges
In response to recurrent flooding, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena set a deadline of May 2023 for the construction of a new drainage system near Sector 8 in Dwarka to ensure effective water discharge, as reported by The Times of India.