• Source:JND
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Delhi Airport Canopy Collapse: The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has responded to the canopy collapse incident at Delhi Airport Terminal 1, calling it "very tragic." He stated that the situation is now under control, with all flight operations shifted to Terminals 2 and 3. For passengers whose flights were cancelled, the Minister assured that they will be provided either a refund or an alternate flight within 7 days. He added that special "war rooms" have also been set up at T-2 and T-3 to manage the situation. 

In response to the incident, airlines have been directed not to increase airfares. To prevent future occurrences, a special team from IIT Delhi's structural department has been brought in for an initial inspection and based on that necessary action will be taken. Additionally, structural preliminary inspections are being conducted at all airports nationwide, with reports expected within 2-5 days.

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"We don't want a similar incident to happen again so we have brought in a special team from IIT Delhi's structural department. They will give an initial inspection report, and based on that necessary action will be taken...to ensure that we are getting a structural preliminary inspection done at all airports, we have sought a report from all the airports across the country within 2-5 days..." news agency ANI quoted Naidu as saying.

His remarks came in the wake of the Delhi Airport canopy collapse incident, which claimed the life of a 45-year-old cab driver and left eight others injured. Kinjarapu expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life in the incident and announced that the government will be providing an ex-gratia payment of Rs 20 lakhs to the family of a cab driver who was killed. Additionally, eight injured people will also receive Rs 3 lakhs each in compensation.

Meanwhile, the minister took a dig at the opposition, stating that they are spreading "fake news" by claiming the collapsed structure was part of a building inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He clarified that PM Modi had in fact inaugurated a different building in another terminal, which remains intact. The collapsed canopy, he said, was part of a 15-year-old structure that was originally inaugurated in 2009.

The Minister criticised the opposition's attempts to politicize the incident, stating that using such tragic events to take "digs at the government is not a good precedent."

"Sadly, a life was lost in the incident...we will be giving Rs 20 lakhs ex-gratia to the family of the victim, all injured will get Rs 3 lakhs each...I am a little surprised that the opposition wants to do politics on this kind of issue by saying this is a terminal inaugurated by PM Modi but it is fake news they are spreading. PM Modi inaugurated a building in another terminal and it is intact. The roof of the building that collapsed is an old building inaugurated in 2009. It is a 15-year-old building...using this situation to take a dig at the govt is not a good precedent..." he added.