Fact Check: Did PM Modi Inaugurate Delhi Airport Terminal 1 Canopy That Collapsed Today?

New Delhi: The Centre on Friday issued a clarification after the Congress blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government for collapse of a portion of a roof at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 1.

“I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009,” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said after inspecting the collapsed structure.

One person died and five were injured after the canopy collapsed as the national capital recorded 228.1 mm of rain in the past 24 hours. The construction of the affected roof was contracted out by GMR Airports Limited to private contractors and it was built and inaugurated when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was in power, media reports said, quoting government sources.

Stating a nationwide audit would be conducted, the Union Minister announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the deceased and Rs 3 lakh for the injured. “We express our condolences to the life that has been lost in this tragic incident. We immediately sent the emergency response team, the fire safety team and also the CISF and NDRF teams. Everyone was available at the site, and they have done thorough inspection so that no other casualties are there,” he added.

Hours after the tragic incident, the Congress had alleged that the roof that collapsed was part of the expanded Terminal 1 that was inaugurated by Modi in March this year. “Corruption and criminal negligence is responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi government,” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X.

He also pointed out that the latter had praised his governance while inaugurating a building near Terminal-1 of the Delhi airport. “On March 10, when Modi ji inaugurated the Delhi Ariport T1, he called himself “Doosri mitti ka insaan… Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy. They bore the brunt of a Corrupt, Inept and Selfish Govt,” he added.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi alleged that BJP’s corrupt model of “take donation and give business” has been exposed. “Delhi Airport Terminal-1, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March, suffered a roof collapse today, resulting in the tragic death of a cab driver. The roof of the Jabalpur airport, which the Prime Minister had inaugurated three months ago, also collapsed. The entire country is saddened by the poor state of construction work in Ayodhya,” she posted on X.

She asked if the PM will take responsibility of this poor construction work and this corrupt model.