WATCH Video | Rajkot Airport Canopy Collapse Amid Monsoon Rains: No Injuries Reported

Amid the intense monsoon downpours, the canopy situated at the passenger pickup and drop-off area outside Rajkot International Airport collapsed on Saturday.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. According to ANI, sources from the Ministry of Civil Aviation revealed that the canopy collapsed during maintenance work aimed at removing accumulated water. Repair efforts are currently in progress, and a detailed report on the incident has been requested.

Photo Credit: PTI/X

Meanwhile, Gujarat is experiencing heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon advances further into the state. With forecasts predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas, seven teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed across the districts of Kutch, Rajkot, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Narmada, and Valsad.

Is weak Airport Infrastructure to be blamed?

This incident closely follows a tragic event at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, where a similar canopy collapse resulted in the death of a cab driver and left multiple others injured. The recent collapses have raised concerns about the structural integrity of airport facilities, especially in the face of adverse weather conditions.

Following the tragic incident at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, where the canopy at Terminal 1 collapsed, one cab driver lost his life, and eight others sustained injuries. The collapse occurred at around 5:00 am on Friday, as per official reports. "Due to heavy rain early this morning, a section of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 gave way," said officials, as reported by IndiaTV news.

In the aftermath of the tragic incident, swift action was taken by the authorities. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu formed a team to investigate the cause of the collapse. Concurrently, rescue operations were launched, and a spokesperson for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) stated that all departures were temporarily halted, and check-in counters were closed as a precautionary measure, as reported by ANI.

Later that evening, Minister Naidu visited the site and attributed the collapse to the heavy rainfall. Describing the incident as "serious in nature," he announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family of the deceased. Additionally, he declared that Rs 3 lakh would be provided to each of the injured individuals, as per media reports.