All Departures from Delhi Airport Terminal-1 Temporarily Suspended, Alternate Arrangements In Place

New Delhi: All departures from Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 has been temporarily halted, and check-in counters were closed as a precautionary measure after one person died and five others were injured after a portion of the roof of the airport fell on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rains early Friday. Alternate arrangements are being made to ensure the smooth operation of flights, officials added.

The Delhi Airport said that all arrival and departure (planned for Terminal 1) are being distributed amongst Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital.

Taking to X, Delhi Airport informed, “All departing flights from T1 of IndiGo and SpiceJet are cancelled till 2 pm today.” Airlines have been advised to accommodate passengers on alternate flights or provide full refunds under the regulations, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said. 16 departure flights and 12 arrival flights have been cancelled since midnight, according to officials.

DIAL (Delhi International Airport Limited) spokesperson said, "Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected. As a result of this incident, all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. We sincerely regret this disruption and apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said a search operation is underway to make sure no one else is trapped in the damaged vehicles. Besides the roof sheet, the support beams also collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal, the officials said.

The injured persons have been hospitalised, they said. Of the six, one was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen, the officials said. Three fire-tenders were sent to the airport after a call about the incident was received by the DFS around 5:30 am.

In a post on X, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said that he is personally monitoring the situation and the injured people have been shifted to hospital.

"Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing," he said.