Roof collapse at Delhi airport kills one, heavy rains wreak havoc in Indian capital
June 28 (Reuters) – Heavy rain and strong winds caused the roof of New Delhi’s main airport to collapse on Friday, killing one person and closing a busy domestic terminal, while flooded roads and traffic jams caused widespread disruption in the Indian capital.
The airport area received about 148.5 millimetres (5.85 inches) of rain in three hours in the early morning, more than the average for the whole of June, according to the national weather office.
Delhi’s main Safdarjung weather station recorded 228.1 mm (9 inches) of rain in the 24 hours until 8:30 a.m.(0300 GMT), the most rainy June 24-hour period in 88 years.
The city of 20 million suffered a scorching heat earlier this month. Experts blame climate change for the extreme heat and subsequent heavy rains.
A wall at a construction site in southwest Delhi collapsed in torrential rains, trapping three workers in 12 feet (3.7 meters) deep water and mud, a fire service spokesperson said. Terminal 1, one of three terminals at the country’s largest and busiest airport, was recently renovated and its area has been expanded more than three times. Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said flights scheduled to and from Terminal 1 were diverted to the airport’s other two terminals from 2 pm (0830 GMT). The ministry ordered a probe into the collapse along with an inspection of the structural soundness of airports across the country. It asked airlines to ensure the incident does not lead to a sharp surge in air fares. New tabs have been opened at the terminal, which is primarily used by InterGlobe Aviation’s (INGL.NS) low-cost airline IndiGo. SpiceJet can now handle 40 million passengers annually.One is killed by a roof collapse at Delhi Airport, and the Indian capital is severely damaged by heavy rains.
NEW DELHI, June 28 (Reuters) – Heavy rain and strong winds caused the roof of New Delhi’s main airport to collapse on Friday, killing one person and closing a busy domestic terminal, while flooded roads and traffic jams caused widespread disruption in the Indian capital.
The airport area received about 148.5 millimetres (5.85 inches) of rain in three hours in the early morning, more than the average for the whole of June, according to the national weather office.
The greatest 24-hour rainfall in June in 88 years was recorded by Delhi’s main Safdarjung weather station, which received 228.1 mm (9 inches) of rain in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. (0300 GMT).
The city of 20 million suffered a scorching heat earlier this month. Experts blame climate change for the extreme heat and subsequent heavy rains.
A wall at a construction site in southwest Delhi collapsed in torrential rains, trapping three workers in 12 feet (3.7 meters) deep water and mud, a fire service spokesperson said. Terminal 1, one of three terminals at the country’s largest and busiest airport, was recently renovated and its area has been expanded more than three times. Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said flights scheduled to and from Terminal 1 were diverted to the airport’s other two terminals from 2 pm (0830 GMT). The ministry ordered a probe into the collapse along with an inspection of the structural soundness of airports across the country. It asked airlines to ensure the incident does not lead to a sharp surge in air fares. The terminal, which is mostly used by low-cost airline IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation (INGL.NS), has opened new tabs, and SpiceJet currently has a capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually. With a 64% stake, GMR Airports Infrastructure (GMRI.NS), the company that runs Delhi International Airport, is also the largest shareholder. Its shares closed down 2.7%.
