The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the IGI Airport roof collapse incident at Terminal-1 which occurred during heavy rainfall on June 28. The court’s decision came after the Central Government assured that appropriate measures were being taken.
In response to the PIL, the Central Government’s counsel revealed that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has set up a high-level expert committee, including structural engineers from IIT Delhi, to investigate the incident and report its findings. Additionally, all airport operators have been instructed to conduct third-party audits of their infrastructure’s structural stability through reputed institutions such as IITs, NITs, CBRI, and EIL.
The audits will cover all civil, electrical, and technical aspects of the airport buildings, including the roof structure, and will be carried out before the start of each monsoon season. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also issued guidelines for airside infrastructure standards and conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance.
The Delhi police have registered an FIR under Sections 337 and 304A of the Indian Penal Code, and an investigation is ongoing. The plea, filed by the Civil Safety Council of India and its President Yatin Swami, had requested a SIT led by expert engineers or an agency like the CBI to evaluate building construction quality and adherence to regulations.
The IGI Airport roof collapse at Terminal-1 resulted in the death of a 45-year-old cab driver and injuries to eight others, including a Merchant Navy officer, after a section of the roof fell during heavy rains, crushing several cars. The plea cited concerns over non-compliance with building regulations and rushed project completions as factors contributing to the mishap.