Contractor blacklisted after Nehru Stadium bridge collapse

India's disastrous run-up to the Commonwealth Games (CWG) off the field continues. Even as the organisers were struggling to save face after head of the New Zealand contingent spoke out against alleged pathetic living conditions in the CWG village, a foot over-bridge near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, one of the main Games venues, collapsed, injuring at least 27 labourers.

The bridge, in the parking area of the stadium, caved in at 3.30 pm. Four of the injured workers, who have been admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Safdarjung Hospital, are critical.

The labourers were hurt as they were removing debris near the bridge. According to Delhi public works department minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, "a rod was being rested on a grid but a clip slipped... resulting in the bridge collapsing".

"Hyderabad-based company PNR Infrastructure, which built the bridge, has been blacklisted and a two-member committee has been set up to look into the matter," Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters. The bridge was built by PNR Infrastructure at a cost of Rs5 crore. The firm had been contracted by the Delhi government.

The accident happened on the day when Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell said parts of the Games village were not fit for accommodation. The New Zealand and Scotland teams have expressed their concerns over the Games.