Frequent storms raising security concerns at IGIA
The cabins of three watchtowers toppled during storm on May 13... Portions of Periphery Intrusion Detection System were also damaged. We’ve deployed more personnel to cover these areas.
CISF OFFICIAL
NEWDELHI: The recent spell of continuous storms and bad weather conditions at Delhi airport is not only affecting flight operations, but also having an impact on the security of the most sensitive airport of the country, airport officials said.
During Sunday’s storm, cabins of three watch towers fell down and portions of the Periphery Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) were also damaged, according to a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official, who did not wish to be named.
PIDS is a system installed along the airport periphery to sound alarm in case of an intrusion. At points where it is not working, intruders can enter.
With weather prediction remaining the same for coming days, the CISF has asked the staff posted at the watch towers to come down in case of high wind speed.
Officials said that to ensure security of the airport, surveillance has been increased around the 35-km-long boundary wall of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
“Cabins of three watchtowers toppled during storm on May 13. There was some damage towards Terminal 1 also. Some portions of PIDS also got damaged. We have deployed additional personnel to cover these areas. Also, during the storms, we have decided to increase presence in the outer periphery and those posted inside the watchtowers will have to come down for their safety,” said a CISF officer, on the condition of anonymity.
The four-layered PIDS, with physical and covert detection systems — including taut wire, buried cable, CCTV cameras and radars — has been installed around the existing perimeter wall of the airport. At three locations, these wires got damaged as the cabin fell on them and the airport operator has called the maintenance team to rectify it.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), meanwhile, maintained that the storm damaged two watchtowers, not three.
“During a period of dust storm that affected IGI airport on Sunday, teams reported damage to two CISF watch towers and 11 small huts of wildlife control. All damages have been rectified. There was no cases human injury,” a DIAL spokesperson said.
There is a patrolling track all along the perimeter wall of the airport. DIAL had claimed that PIDS will be effective in any kind of weather and help in enhancing the efficiency of the security personnel in responding to breaches. There are 42 watchtowers at the airport along the periphery.