New Delhi, Sept 21 : In a major embarrassment for organisers of the Commonwealth Games, an under-construction foot over-bridge today collapsed outside the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the main venue of the Commonwealth Games, injuring 23 labourers.
Five of the injured are critical in the incident that occurred at 3.10 PM in Lodhi Road area of South Delhi, police said.
The 95-metre long bridge was being built along with another overbridge at the cost of Rs 10.5 crore by Chandigarh-based company PNR Infra, Delhi government sources said.
Public Works Department of Delhi government, which had given the contract to PNR Infra for constructing the over-bridge as ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The bridge, whose construction was to be completed soon, was to connect the parking lot of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where the opening and closing functions of Commonwealth Games would be held.
Fire department officials said the labourers were putting concrete mix at a portion of the bridge when the incident took place.
PWD Chief Engineer Rakesh Mishra admitted that the incident was a "setback" but expressed confidence that the project would be completed before the Games that start on October 3.
Yesterday, two police personnel, including an officer, had suffered injuries when a canopy erected at the stadium fell on them.