June 28th 2024.
The residents of New Delhi were jolted awake on Friday morning to a city ravaged by heavy rainfall. The busy Terminal 1 at Delhi airport was hit hard as a canopy collapsed, tragically taking the life of one person. The city was also struggling with flooding in many areas, with water seeping into homes and submerging vehicles, causing long traffic delays. As the rain continued to pour down, flights were suspended at Terminal 1, leaving thousands of commuters stranded on their way to work, school, or other important appointments.
Reports of flooding and damage came in from various parts of the city, including upscale neighborhoods like Hauz Khas, South Extension, and Mayur Vihar. According to the India Meteorological Department, Safdarjung, the city's main weather station, recorded 228.1 mm of rain in the last 20 to 30 hours. Other areas also saw significant rainfall, with Lodhi Road receiving 192.8 mm, Mausam Bhavan 150.4 mm, Ridge 106.6 mm, Palam 66.3 mm, and Ayanagar 66.3 mm. The IMD declared that the monsoon had officially arrived in the national capital.
The destruction caused by the heavy downpour took a tragic turn at Terminal 1 when a canopy at the departure area collapsed, trapping and killing one person. The support beams and roof sheet also collapsed, damaging cars parked in the pickup and drop-off area. A search operation was conducted to ensure that no one was trapped in the damaged vehicles, and the injured were taken to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. The Civil Aviation Ministry announced that flight operations at Terminal 1 would remain closed until further notice, with alternate arrangements being made to ensure smooth operations.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu personally monitored the situation, stating that first responders were working at the site and asking airlines to assist affected passengers. Terminal 1 only serves domestic flights for IndiGo and SpiceJet, while the airport as a whole handles around 1,400 flight movements daily.
IndiGo reported that flight operations were impacted due to structural damage at Terminal 1, leading to cancellations and passengers being unable to enter the terminal. The airline assured that those already inside the terminal would be able to board their scheduled flights, but those with later flights would be offered alternatives. SpiceJet also announced flight cancellations and the partial closure of Terminal 1 until further notice.
Not far from the airport, an under-construction wall collapsed in Vasant Vihar, potentially trapping several laborers. Rescue teams from various agencies were on the scene, including NDRF, DDMA, and the fire and police departments. The Delhi government called for an emergency meeting in the afternoon to assess the situation, with all cabinet ministers and senior officials in attendance.
As Delhiites and the government struggled to deal with the crisis, power outages were reported in many areas, and key roads and underpasses had to be closed due to waterlogging. Locals in residential areas were seen wading through waist-deep water, and a video surfaced of BJP Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi using a boat to navigate a flooded street. Negi criticized the Delhi government for not cleaning the drains ahead of the monsoon, causing the city to flood. He also called out Delhi minister Atishi for not addressing the waterlogging situation while protesting about the water scarcity in the capital. The BJP shared images of water entering Atishi's residence on Mathura Road.
The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories for various roads affected by waterlogging, advising commuters to find alternative routes. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation also closed the entry and exit gates at Yashobhoomi Sector 25 Dwarka and suspended shuttle services from Delhi Aerocity Metro Station to Terminal 1-IGI Airport.
Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had previously stated that there would be no flooding in the Yamuna river this year due to a clear channel for its flow. However, the heavy rains proved him wrong, and the city was now struggling to cope with the aftermath. The situation was still ongoing, and the government assured its citizens that they were working tirelessly to resolve it.
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