'Maintain Fare Stability': Centre's Advisory To Airlines After Delhi Airport T1 Roof Collapse Causes Disruptions

The Civil Aviation Ministry issued an advisory on Friday to airlines following the collapse of a portion of Terminal 1’s roof at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport instructing them to avoid any “abnormal surcharges” on flights to and from Delhi.

“In view of the unfortunate incident at Terminal T1D IGIA, Delhi, all airlines are advised to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Delhi and take necessary action regarding the same. Further, cancellations and rescheduling of flights due to the incident may be done without penal charges,” the ministry said in a post on X.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Ministry suspended all departures from Terminal 1 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

At around 5am today morning, a section of the roof sheet and its supporting pillars collapsed, resulting in the death of one person and injuring at least six others. The incident significantly disrupted flight operations at the airport which is one of the world’s busiest.

The civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, rushed to the airport in the morning and also inspected the damage and rescue efforts. “Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at the site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital,” he said after visiting the site.

The union minister then visited the injured who were admitted in Delhi’s All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The minister also announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family of the person who died in the accident. Six others were injured.

Images posted online showed vehicles crushed under giant steel girders at the departure forecourt of the airport’s Terminal 1. “Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy… collapsed around 5 am,” airport authorities said in a statement.

Delhi recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall on Friday, the highest since 1936 for the month of June, and the weatherman predicted more spells over the weekend in the national capital.