FOOTBRIDGE NEAR COMMONWEALTH GAMES STADIUM COLLAPSES, NEARLY 20 INJURED

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- At least 20 people were reported injured, five
seriously, when a footbridge under construction near the Jawaharlal Stadium, one
of the main venues for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, collapsed Tuesday
evening.

Indian news channel said most of the injured were workers at the
construction site and were rushed to the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences
Trauma Centre.

South Delhi police confirmed five of the workers were seriously injured in the
collapse.

Public Works Department chief engineer A. K. Sinha said the bridge was meant for
visitors during the Commonwealth Games.

The bridge would connect one of the entrances to the stadium that would host the
opening of the 19th edition of the games, where about 7,000 international
athletes are expected to participate.

The bridge mishap adds more woes as Indian organisers race against time and the
incessant monsoon rain to complete the infrastructure projects ahead of the
games, scheduled from Oct 3 to 14.

Several foreign teams are expected to arrive in the city on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the Delhi security establishment was jolted when two men on a
motorcycle opened fire at a tourist bus parked near a mosque in the older part
of the city.

Two Taiwanese tourists were injured in the incident.
-- BERNAMA