Canopy tumbles at Rajkot Hirasar International Airport

PM Modi inaugurated the pristine greenfield Rajkot airport in July 2023. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) constructed it 25 km from Rajkot at Hirasar village.

Incident Overview

On June 29, a part of the canopy at Rajkot Hirasar International Airport terminal collapsed due to heavy rainfall in Gujarat.

The incident occurred in the passenger pickup and drop area outside the terminal. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Viral Video

A video capturing the moment of the canopy collapse has gone viral on social media, highlighting the incident’s impact. Officials have confirmed that there were no casualties as a result of the accident.

Airport Inauguration

The Rajkot Hirasar International Airport, a new greenfield airport, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) constructed the airport 25 km from Rajkot in Hirasar village.

Recent Infrastructure Collapses

This incident marks the third infrastructure collapse at an Indian airport within a week, following similar events at Delhi’s IGI Terminal-1 and Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur airport.

Canopy Collapse at Delhi Airport

On June 28, a day before the Rajkot incident, a canopy over the forecourt at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi collapsed due to heavy rain.

The collapse resulted in one fatality and six injuries. Following the accident, flight operations at the terminal were suspended. Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Rammohan Naidu, announced a compensation of ₹20 lakh for the family of the deceased and ₹3 lakh for the injured.

Canopy Collapse at Jabalpur Airport

Earlier, on June 27, a section of a fabric canopy at Dumna Airport in Jabalpur collapsed under the weight of accumulated rainwater, crushing a car parked below. No injuries were reported.

Airport Director Rajeev Ratna Pandey stated that a probe has been initiated, and strict measures will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.

Conclusion

The canopy collapses at Rajkot Hirasar International Airport, Delhi’s IGI Terminal-1, and Jabalpur’s Dumna Airport underscore the need for stringent infrastructure safety measures at airports across India, especially during adverse weather conditions.