Heavy rainfall at Delhi Airport triggers viral videos; DIAL clarifies no structural damage

New Delhi: Heavy overnight rain in the national capital on May 24 led to water accumulation and dramatic visuals at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, sparking widespread discussion on social media. Several users posted videos showing water gushing from the tensile fabric roof of Terminal 1’s arrival area, raising concerns about infrastructure and safety.

A video shared by Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) on X showed water cascading from the roof, drawing critical comments. Other users like @Arun2981 and @ShadowSakshi also posted similar footage, adding to the growing conversation around the airport’s response to the intense weather.

In response to the viral videos, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) issued a statement clarifying the situation. “Delhi experienced an intense thunderstorm with over 80mm of rain and wind speeds reaching 70–80 km/h within a span of 30 to 45 minutes around 2 AM,” a DIAL spokesperson said.

The sudden and concentrated downpour, according to DIAL, caused temporary water accumulation in some parts of the airport, including the T1 Arrival forecourt. However, officials emphasised that there was no structural damage.

“As part of the design’s natural response to extreme conditions, a section of the external tensile fabric adjusted under pressure to facilitate water dispersal,” the spokesperson explained. “This prevented excessive water retention and helped manage the flow efficiently.”

DIAL said ground teams responded swiftly and restored normal conditions soon after, ensuring passenger safety and minimal disruption to operations.

The clarification comes amid increasing scrutiny over urban infrastructure resilience, especially during sudden weather events. The airport authorities reassured passengers that operations remained safe and structurally unaffected.