New Delhi: The canopy at the arrival forecourt of Terminal 1 (T1) at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) partially collapsed on Sunday morning due to heavy rains and strong winds, according to a source familiar with the incident.

Recent Opening of Revamped Terminal 1

The revamped T1 was recently opened for flight operations at IGIA, the country’s largest and busiest airport, located in the national capital. Despite the partial canopy collapse, there was no structural compromise to the terminal, the airport operator Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) confirmed.

Airport’s Official Statement on Canopy Incident

In an official statement, DIAL clarified that "as a part of the design's natural response to extreme conditions and to prevent excessive water retention, a section of the external tensile fabric at the T1 arrival forecourt adjusted under pressure, thereby aiding in water dispersal." The statement did not explicitly mention the canopy collapse but assured that swift action was taken by ground teams to restore normal conditions, ensuring safety and continuity of operations with minimal disruption.

A source confirmed that no one was injured during the partial collapse.

Flight Diversions and Weather Conditions

Between 11:30 pm on Saturday and 4 am on Sunday, as many as 49 flights, including 17 international ones, were diverted due to the adverse weather, a source said earlier.

DIAL’s statement highlighted that the national capital experienced an intense thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall on the intervening night of May 24. The city recorded over 80 mm of rain, with wind speeds reaching 70-80 km/h within 30 to 45 minutes around 2 am. This sudden and concentrated downpour caused temporary water accumulation in and around the airport, briefly impacting operations.

IGIA manages approximately 1,300 flight movements daily.

Background: Past Canopy Collapse at Terminal 1

In June last year, a similar canopy at the old departure forecourt of T1 partially collapsed amid heavy rains, resulting in the death of one person and injuring at least six others.

Ongoing Weather Impact

Meanwhile, in a post on X at 7 pm, DIAL warned that due to inclement weather conditions and changing wind patterns, flight operations at the airport might continue to be affected.