Roof collapses at Indira Gandhi International Airport

A roof at terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, in Delhi, India, has collapsed following an extended period of heavy rain, killing one person and injuring four others.

The incident occurred around 0500 local time on Thursday, authorities have said.

Videos posted online have shown huge pillars, which normally support the roof, fall and smash cars below.

Rescue operations are underway at the airport and the injured are currently being treated in hospital.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator in India, has guided airlines to allow passengers refunds for the disruption, or offer them alternative flights.

This incident has seen great disruption at the airport, as thousands of passengers are now either delayed or stranded. Most domestic flights at the airport take off from Terminal 1. Some airlines have transferred their flights to the other two terminals at the airport.

Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarupu, the Federal Aviation Minister, has announced a compensation scheme for the victims and the deceased’s family. Those injured will receive 300,000 rupees and the family of the deceased will receive 2 million rupees.

Minister Kinjarupu told reporters on the scene that the situation was under control and that an inspection of the infrastructure would be completed to ensure safety.

The collapse has drawn criticism from some on social media. The airport infrastructure has recently undergone renovation at the cost of billions. It was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modhi in March earlier this year, before the general election started.

Minister Kinjarupu has said that the collapse was not the section which underwent renovation.

“I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009,” he said.

Torrential rain has ended the high temperatures that India has recently faced. Now, however, there is disruption to travel in the region due to flooding.