Under-construction Delhi Metro bridge collapses, 5 killed

Five persons, including an engineer, were killed and 15 others injured when an under-construction over-bridge of the Delhi Metro collapsed today, in the second such incident in eight months.

The accident took place as one of the pillars of the bridge gave in when a launcher was being erected close to Lady Sriram College in Jamrudpur in Lajpat Nagar at around 5 am.

"Three persons were brought dead to the hospital. Two persons who were trapped in the debris also died. Fifteen others were injured," Delhi Metro spokesperson Anuj Dayal told reporters here.

Among the dead were four labourers and an engineer of Gammon India, the contractor for the project. The engineer has been identified as 28-year-old Anshuman while the names of the other deceased are yet to be released.

The Delhi Metro attributed the accident to a "problem in the design" of the pillar. "We were trying to rectify it. There was a defect in the peer cap which caused the displacement," Dayal said.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit termed the incident as "unfortunate" and said a compensation package will be worked out in consultation with the Delhi Metro.

In a similar incident in October last year, two persons were killed and 16 others injured when a portion of an under-construction bridge of the Metro collapsed and fell on a bus on Vikas Marg in Lakshmi Nagar area in east Delhi.