Indira Gandhi International Airport: Roof collapse smashes cars in Delhi

Video caption, Watch: India capital Delhi’s airport roof collapses due to heavy rain

A roof at Delhi airport has collapsed after heavy rain, killing one person and injuring four others.

Videos online show huge pillars supporting the roof smashing into cars parked along the airport’s Terminal 1.

All flights from the terminal have been temporarily suspended and check-in counters have been closed.

The incident took place at 05:00 (23:30 GMT Thursday), authorities said.

Rescue operations are under way at the airport and the injured are being treated in hospitals.

India’s aviation regulator has advised airlines to accommodate passengers on alternate flights or offer them refunds.

The accident has impacted travel plans of thousands, as most domestic flights take-off from Terminal 1.

Some airlines have shifted flight operations to the remaining two terminals at the airport.

Image caption, A canopy over Terminal 1 caved in after heavy rain

Federal Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has announced a compensation of 2m rupees ($24,000; £19,000) to the family of the deceased and 300,000 rupees for the injured.

He also told reporters that the situation was under control and that inspection was under way to prevent any further incident. He added that airports with added structures across the country would also be inspected.

The incident was criticised on social media, with many users pointing out that the terminal had undergone a massive renovation at the cost of billions of rupees and had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March – a month before the recent general election began.

However, Mr Kinjarapu later said the portion that collapsed was not part of the renovated section.

“I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009,” he said.

Image caption, Visuals from the accident site

Heavy rains have lashed Delhi since Thursday, providing a much-needed respite from sweltering temperatures that the Indian capital was experiencing since April.

But the downpour has pushed the city into chaos as several roads are water-logged, leading to major traffic jams.

Commuters reported spending hours in traffic while others said their vehicles had suffered breakdowns.

Videos shared on social media showed people wading through knee-deep water and cars and buses partly submerged in subways.

The torrential downpour has also led to delays and cancellations of flights.

India’s meteorological department forecasts that the city will continue to see “heavy to very heavy rainfall” over the weekend.

Reference

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