The Delhi airport's Terminal-1 roof collapse, which resulted in the death of one person and injuries to four others, has sparked a political blame game between the BJP and Congress. While the Opposition blamed the saffron camp for the incident, the BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared news articles from 2009 and 2013 to prove that the portion of the terminal that collapsed was built during the Congress-led UPA era. He further criticized the Congress party for pointing fingers at the BJP for the recent incident.
Delhi Airport Terminal-1 Roof Collapse Tragedy: Political Blame Game Escalates
The tragic collapse of a portion of the Delhi Airport's Terminal-1 roof has sparked a political blame game between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, resulted in the death of one person and injuries to four others.
Political Blame Game
The Congress party has swiftly blamed the BJP for the collapse, alleging that the saffron camp's neglect of infrastructure has led to the tragedy. Congress leader Pawan Khera stated that the BJP has "failed miserably" in ensuring airport safety.
In response, the BJP has hit back by pointing out that the portion of the terminal that collapsed was built during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared news articles from 2009 and 2013 to support the claim. He further criticized the Congress for "politicizing" the incident.
Background
The collapsed portion of the terminal was part of the expansion project undertaken during the UPA government's tenure. The expansion, which cost approximately Rs 2000 crore, was completed in 2010. However, there have been concerns about the quality of construction and maintenance of the terminal in recent years.
In 2018, a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged structural deficiencies in the terminal. The report recommended immediate repairs, including the reinforcement of the ceiling. It is unclear whether these repairs were carried out.
Top 5 FAQs
The exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation. However, preliminary reports suggest that it may have been due to a combination of factors, including structural weaknesses and heavy rainfall.
The responsibility for the collapse is likely to be shared by multiple parties, including the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the construction company, and the engineering firm involved in the expansion project.
Besides the tragic loss of life and injuries, the collapse has disrupted flight operations at Terminal-1. The terminal has been partially closed, and some flights have been diverted to other terminals.
The AAI has launched an investigation into the collapse and has taken measures to secure the affected area. Repair work is currently underway, and the terminal is expected to reopen soon.
In 2019, a portion of the ceiling collapsed at Terminal-3 of Delhi Airport, causing minor injuries to two passengers. However, no major incidents have been reported at Terminal-1 prior to this tragedy.
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