A section of the false ceiling outside Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) collapsed on Sunday, causing minor injuries to a visitor. Airport authorities said their emergency medical team responded promptly and provided assistance to the injured person.
Confirming the incident, a Mumbai airport spokesperson said, “A small section of the false ceiling outside Terminal 2 of Mumbai Airport fell on Sunday, resulting in a minor injury to one visitor. The airport’s emergency medical team responded immediately and provided the necessary assistance. The matter is being investigated to ascertain the cause of the incident.”
An investigation has been initiated to determine what led to the ceiling section falling. Further details about the cause of the incident have not yet been disclosed.
The occurrence has drawn attention to the structural safety and upkeep of airport infrastructure, particularly in the wake of a fatal incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 28, 2024. During heavy rainfall, a portion of the canopy at Terminal 1 collapsed, killing one person and injuring nine others.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates the airport, initially attributed the collapse to intense rainfall. However, a subsequent review by a high-level expert committee comprising structural engineering specialists from IIT Delhi and IIT Jammu identified shortcomings related to the structure’s design, construction quality and maintenance.
The committee concluded that the failure of a welded joint connecting a horizontal beam to a column was the principal reason behind the collapse. It also pointed to poor workmanship and insufficient consideration of rainwater accumulation during the design process.
The incident at Mumbai airport has once again brought the condition and maintenance of airport structures into focus. Terminal 2’s structure dates back to 2013, while redevelopment plans are currently being considered for the older Terminal 1-B, which originated in 1965.
Source: Indian Express
