The closure of Terminal 1 (T1) at Delhi Airport following a tragic roof collapse has disrupted travel plans for 22,615 passengers, according to a statement released by the civil aviation ministry on Monday. The closure, which occurred on Friday after severe weather conditions, led to the cancellation of numerous flights, primarily affecting IndiGo and SpiceJet passengers.
Among those affected, 9,972 passengers have already received refunds for their bookings on IndiGo (9,431) and SpiceJet (541) flights, with 196 refunds still pending, the statement confirmed. Despite the closure of T1, operations smoothly transitioned to Terminal 2 (T2) and Terminal 3 (T3) over the weekend, with no further cancellations reported.
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu conducted an inspection at the Airport Operations Control Centre and held meetings with officials from the ministry, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), and airline operators. Discussions focused on enhancing operational efficiency and managing increased passenger flow at T2 and T3.
“A comprehensive assessment was conducted, emphasizing seamless operations and ensuring passenger safety through enhanced manpower deployment,” the aviation ministry stated. DGCA activated war rooms to facilitate coordination between DIAL and airlines, underscoring the importance of stringent operational standards.
The closure of T1, following the fatal roof collapse amid adverse weather conditions, resulted in one fatality and eight injuries. DIAL has initiated an investigation, attributing the collapse primarily to heavy rainfall. The airport authority has announced compensation of ₹20 lakh for the deceased’s family and ₹3 lakh each for the injured.
Sources By Agencies