3 Days, 3 Incidents: Delhi to Rajkot — Who's Accountable For Safety at Airports?

New Delhi: A day after a roof collapsed at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-1 here killing one person, a canopy collapsed at Gujarat's Rajkot Airport amid heavy rainfall on Saturday. Though there have been no injuries or casualties, a series of collapse incidents at airports from Delhi to Rajkot in the past three days, have thrust airport safety into the spotlight. These alarming events have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of existing safety protocols and the accountability of airport authorities. Public anxiety is mounting as passengers are facing harrowing times. However, instead of coming together to address these pressing issues, political leaders are engaging in a blame game, pointing fingers at each other.  As the debate rages on, the focus must shift from political posturing to proactive measures that enhance safety and restore public confidence in the nation's world-class airports. 

Meanwhile, Gujarat is currently experiencing heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon progresses through the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also issued a 'yellow alert' for south Gujarat, predicting the possibility of heavy showers on Saturday. "The cyclonic circulation over central Gujarat and neighbourhood now lies over south Gujarat and extends up to 4.5 km above mean sea level tilting southwards. Due to the above-mentioned systems, Gujarat is very likely to receive an active wet spell during the next five days" said IMD in a release.

As per the release, heavy rains are expected at isolated places in the districts of Valsad and Navsari along with the adjoining Union Territory of Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli on Saturday. Heavy showers are also predicted at isolated places in Gandhinagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Navsari and Valsad districts, and in Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli on Sunday and the wet spell would continue till July 3, said the release.

The Third Such Incident In Three Days

The incident at Rajkot marks the third such occurrence in three days. On Friday, a portion of the roof at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed, resulting in the death of a 45-year-old cab driver and injuring eight others. This incident led to the indefinite suspension of operations at Terminal 1, which typically handles around 200 flights daily.

Similarly, on Thursday, a part of a fabric canopy collapsed at Jabalpur airport in Madhya Pradesh due to water accumulation from heavy rains, crushing a car parked below. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually inaugurated the ₹450-crore new terminal building of Dumna airport on March 10.  

Issuing a statement, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in Jabalpur said,"Due to continuous rainfall since yesterday evening, a part of the fabric canopy, constructed for the aesthetic appeal of the newly-built building at Jabalpur Airport, accumulated water and the fabric tore. This caused the water to fall on the car parked below, damaging the car’s roof and windows. Technical reasons for the incident are being investigated to ensure such incidents do not recur. The AAI (Jabalpur), regrets this incident and assures comprehensive resolution."

Rajiv Ratan Pandey, Director of Jabalpur Airport, elaborated, "The fabric canopy in front of the new terminal building was constructed for decorative purposes. However, continuous heavy rains led to localized accumulation of rainwater on a section of the canopy, causing it to collapse. The sudden collapse resulted in a large amount of water falling with heavy force onto a car parked beneath, causing significant damage."  

Visuals from the Dumna airport terminal reveal a significant portion of the white rooftop collapsing onto a government official's parked car. The weight of the fallen rooftop section was so substantial that it completely damaged the vehicle.

Airports International, But Lack Facilities 

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the largest airport in India by both domestic and international passenger traffic, is operated by Delhi International Airport Limited and owned by GMR Airports.  Despite generating significant revenues, the airport has faced criticism for lacking some basic facilities that are standard at most other international airports. Passengers at IGIA have frequently complained about the insufficient waiting and sitting areas, which are often replaced by shops and restaurants. This issue isn't new; last year, amid congestion and long queues at security checks, passengers also took to social media to voice similar grievances. 

Footfall Statistics For Delhi, Jabalpur, and Rajkot Airports

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI): As one of the busiest airports in India, IGI Airport handles a significant volume of both domestic and international passengers. The total passenger traffic for Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport) for the fiscal year 2023-24 was 73,673,708 passengers . This translates to an average daily footfall of approximately 201,573 passengers.   

With three terminals, it has a capacity of 104 million passengers annually. The oldest terminal, formerly known as Palam terminal, was the sole terminal for both domestic and international flights in Delhi. In January 2006, a GMR group-led consortium won the concession to operate, manage, and develop IGI Airport for an initial 30 years, extendable by another 30 years. In February 2009, GMR commissioned the new domestic departure terminal, 1D.

A government official stated, "The roof that collapsed at Terminal 1 was constructed during 2008-2009 and was contracted out by GMR to private contractors." As part of its master plan to make Delhi Airport ‘future ready,’ expansion work on Terminal 1 began in 2019. It is now the largest domestic terminal in the country, with a capacity of 40 million passengers per annum, up from 17 million. It exclusively handles domestic carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet, and the revamped terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March this year.

Jabalpur Airport: Jabalpur Airport, while smaller in comparison to major international hubs, has been experiencing steady growth in passenger traffic. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, the airport saw around 500,000 passengers, reports showed. 

Rajkot Airport: Rajkot Airport serves the city of Rajkot in Gujarat and has also seen a rise in passenger numbers. For the fiscal year 2022-2023, the airport reportedly handled approximately 400,000 passengers.  

Delhi Roof Collapse: FIR Filed

The Delhi Police has filed an FIR under sections related to death by negligence after the collapse of the roof of Delhi Airport's Terminal-1 killed one person and injured six others. Officials said the Delhi Police has started the probe and will fix responsibility. The city witnessed heavy rains from around 3 am Friday. At the airport's busy Terminal 1, the rain took a tragic turn as the massive canopy covering the departure area gave way, trapping several people. 

Besides the roof sheet, support beams collapsed, pinning down parked cars. A taxi driver, identified as Ramesh Kumar, was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen but was declared dead when he was taken to the Medanta Hospital facility near the terminal. The injured were admitted to the hospital.

Why Did The Roof Collapse?  

An initial investigation suggests that the canopy collapsed due to the accumulation of rainwater, stated an officer. The structures were designed to allow rainwater to collect and pass through easily. Videos showing water accumulation, as well as cracks and leaks in the canopy, have surfaced on social media.

The operational work of the airport is managed by GMR Airport Infrastructure Limited-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). The Delhi Police is investigating whether DIAL had outsourced the maintenance of the area outside T1 to another firm or contractor and will also review the audit work.

In response to the incident, DIAL has established an internal technical committee to investigate the cause of the collapse, with a report expected to be shared with the Delhi Police. Following the incident, T1 has been closed by the authorities as the removal of rubble continues.