Tragedy struck at New Delhi’s airport on Friday as a section of the roof collapsed following heavy rain, resulting in one fatality and eight injuries. The incident occurred at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi’s Terminal 1 around 5 am, with the canopy collapsing due to the intense rainfall.
Rescue efforts by the Delhi Fire Services revealed that two support pillars had collapsed over a car, leading to the death of one individual who was trapped inside the vehicle. The injured were promptly taken to the hospital for treatment, with departures from Terminal 1 being temporarily suspended.
The images released by the fire service depicted the aftermath of the collapse, showing the large white canopy on the ground, crushing multiple cars. The severity of the situation was evident as one person was found trapped under twisted metal inside a vehicle.
This incident adds to a series of infrastructure mishaps in India, which has been focusing on upgrading its transport network and infrastructure. The country has witnessed previous disasters, including a recent collision between a cargo train and a passenger train that claimed nine lives in eastern India.
Heavy rainfall in parts of Delhi this week has caused flooding and road submersion, offering some relief from the scorching temperatures that soared to record highs. The extreme weather conditions have strained the country’s power supply, with temperatures reaching as high as 49.9 degrees Celsius.
India’s commitment to grand infrastructure projects has been marred by tragedies such as the collapse of a suspension bridge in Morbi in 2022, which resulted in the loss of 135 lives. The nation continues to grapple with ensuring public safety amidst rapid development and modernization efforts.
