Delhi airport terminal-1 roof crash: Oppn blames corruption; structure was built in 2009, clarifies aviation minister

Roof collapse at Delhi airport

Facing strong reactions from the Opposition over the quality of construction that led to the deadly roof collapse at Terminal 1 of the Delhi airport, the Civil Aviation Minister said that he has asked authorities to conduct verifications and checks.

Refuting claims by the Opposition that the structure was inaugurated by PM Modi in March, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said, “This structure was built in 2009. We have asked the Delhi airport authorities to do the verifications and checks. Ministry officials will also inspect and give their report.”

A man was crushed to death in his car and eight others were injured on Friday after a section of roof at New Delhi's airport collapsed following heavy rain.

Photos of the scene released by the fire service showed the large white canopy of the roof had plunged to the ground, crushing several cars. One person could be seen slumped under twisted metal in the driver's seat of one of the cars.

बड़े ज़ोर शोर के साथ प्रधानमंत्री जी ने टर्मिनल 1 के इसी हिस्से का उद्घाटन किया था आज धड़ाम हो गया 3 लोगों की जान चली गई कई लोग घायल हैं। कभी राम मंदिर, कभी अटल सेतु, कभी जबलपुर टर्मिनल, कभी दिल्ली टर्मिनल। जहाँ भाजपा-वहाँ भ्रष्टाचार। pic.twitter.com/fOA1Dkm95t

— Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) June 28, 2024

Government sources stated that the roof that collapsed was constructed during 2008-09 and was outsourced to contractors. “The work was contracted out by GMR to private contractors,” they said.

Meanwhile, several senior opposition leaders have claimed corruption in the construction that led to the collapse.Senior AAP leaser Sanjay Singh posted on X: "The Prime Minister had inaugurated this part of Terminal 1 with great fanfare; today it collapsed, 3 people lost their lives, many are injured. Sometimes Ram Temple, sometimes Atal Setu, sometimes Jabalpur Terminal, sometimes Delhi Terminal. Wherever BJP exists, there is corruption (sic)."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi posted: "Delhi Airport Terminal-1, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March, suffered a roof collapse today, resulting in the tragic death of a cab driver. The roof of the Jabalpur airport, which the Prime Minister had inaugurated three months ago, also collapsed. The entire country is saddened by the poor state of construction work in Ayodhya. This is BJP's corrupt model of "take donation and give business" which has now been exposed. The question is, will the Chief Inauguration Minister take responsibility for this poor construction work and this corrupt model? (sic)." 

️ मार्च में प्रधानमंत्री जी ने दिल्ली एयरपोर्ट टर्मिनल-1 का उद्घाटन किया था, आज उसकी छत ढह गई जिसमें एक कैब ड्राइवर की दुखद मृत्यु हो गई। ️ तीन महीने पहले प्रधानमंत्री जी ने जिस जबलपुर एयरपोर्ट का उद्घाटन किया था, उसकी भी छत ढह गई। ️ अयोध्या में निर्माण कार्यों के… — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 28, 2024

Kerala Congress on it's X account wrote: "Modi had inaugurated this newly renovated terminal along with the Jabalpur terminal (which collapsed yesterday) just a couple of days before the election model code of conduct came into force."