Three airport mishaps in three days in India due to heavy rainfall, one was newly constructed.

Monsoon season has arrived in India, and so does series of unfortunate accidents. Few days ago, North India was witnessing highest temperature in the country and deaths dues to heatwave, however three airports mishaps in three days have raised multiple questions on safety and structural integrity of airport facilities. These mishaps majorly caused by constant torrent of rain, that has not only raised concern for safety but also highlighted the compromised quality. The three incidents happened in Delhi IGI Airport, Jabalpur Airport and Rajkot Airport. According to the information, the canopy at the Terminal 1 at IGI Airport collapsed due to heavy rainfall and led to a death of cab driver, and injuries to eight others, quoted Mint. The incident at Delhi IGI Airport came months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed over inaugurating the upgrade of the terminal so that it is capable handle 40 million passengers a year, comparatively to last year which was up to 17 million. The structure was built in 2008-09. Similarly, a part of canopy fall down at Jabalpur Airport within same series of days. Though no deaths or injuries are reported, a four-wheeler belonging to an Income Tax official was damaged. Airports Authority of India started a probe and said that newly constructed airport experienced its first rain that led to collapse of the canopy and water accumulation. Third incident took place in Rajkot’s airport, where a canopy suddenly fall down at the passenger pick and drop area amid heavy rainfall. According to the initial information, no report of injuries or deaths were reported.
Independent aviation analyst Digvijay Chaddha commented over the incidents and pointed the adjusted quality for the sake of speed. He said, ‘It is unfortunate to see three airports within three days witnessed the collapse of canopy. Airport is a place where people from across the world land first. It should provide and assure safety and security to each passenger travelling any corner of the world. It serves as first impression of how a country functions, I believe. So, compromising in quality while building an airport to chase a certain deadline should not never be a motive.’ He added that, audit should be conducted to examine the old structure that needs to be re built for the sake of passenger’s safety, as Delhi roof that collapsed was an older infrastructure. According to the reports, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has ordered for a structural audit of all airports in the country within 2-5 days after the incidents simultaneously, ministry asked all the airlines to not increase airfares.
States in North India has been issued orange alert of rainfall for the next few days. Despite of rainfall being a major reason behind these incidents, opposition and experts mentioned risk of fast pace projects under the current government as a part of infrastructure development. On addition to that, Mr. Chaddha said, ‘In last few years, operational airports in the country have doubled from 74 in Financial year 2015 to 149 in Financial year in 2023. And government plans to extend the number of airports by the end of decade to 220. This is progressive and beneficial for aviation industry and for the country all together, but while achieving the motive, people involved should also considered operational, cost, social, and environmental factors’. This year’s annual budget supported aviation industry with double numbers, as the government took notable steps to upgrade the industry. Allocated funds to enhance infrastructure and airports development for the modernization of aviation industry with an aim to improvise passenger’s experience is a step represents government’s preference, however regardless of government’s attention over the industry, current incidents present failure and question the pace government is going with, in the process of modernization.
Mr. Chaddha told EAT news, instead of focusing over passenger’s experience, considering safety is also equally important. ‘If government is prioritizing passenger’s experience and want to provide them luxury along with other certain necessities during travelling, it is equally significant to be concerned about their safety and security. Considering, airports are never vacant and always busy, any sudden accident can cause unfortunate injuries or deaths depending on the circumstances and extremity of an accident’, he said. Meanwhile former Union Aviation Minister Praful Patel, when the T1 terminal was inaugurated in 2009 reacted after the roof collapse that killed one and injured others. ‘It’s unfortunate that a portion of Delhi’s airport’s terminal 1 collapsed. I can’t understand the politics being done on this. A building was built 15 years ago and work was being carried out from there. An investigation should be conducted into the incident. A major company, Larsen and Toubro built this airport. Why should politics be done on this? Instead, action should be taken’, he said, quoted by ANI news agency. Structural audit ordered by ministry is the first and only action taken from government’s end after the accidents, so far.