One killed, 9 injured in Metro bridge collapse, probe ordered

New Delhi, Oct 19 (UNI) A Blueline bus driver was killed and nine others were injured when an under construction Delhi Metro bridge fell alongwith a launcher, near Laxminagar in East Delhi this morning.

DMRC chief spokesperson Anuj Dayal said a compensation of Rs five lakh has been announced for the dead driver Surinder's family.

'' The injured will receive an amount of Rs 50,000 apart from all support during their medical treatment. Two of the injured are in serious condition,'' he said addressing a press conference here, alongwith three Directors of the company.

He said DMRC Managing Director E Sreedharan has ordered an independent probe into the incident. A three-member inquiry committee comprising an IIT's structural engineering professor, a foreign expert and the DMRC Chief Engineer (Design) has been constituted for the purpose.

The DMRC chief spokesperson said Delhi IIT's Director has been approached to nominate a professor of structural engineering to the probe panel.

He said the accident happened when a launcher which is used to fit spans (the gap between two pillars) fell. '' Ten spans had been already fitted but the eleventh one gave way. Alongwith this, other spans too collapse.'' '' Prima facie it appeared that there might have been a mechanical failure in the launcher, but a thorough probe could only ascertain the real reason behind the collapse, '' Mr Dayal said.

As the launcher fell on one side of the road, and the segments on the other side, traffic on the route was completely blocked.

''We hope to clear the segments and restore traffic on one side of the road within next two hours,'' he added.

He said the launcher belonged to the contractor for the particular section, AFCONS. Records and safety checklist of the company has been seized to ascertain the cause of the accident, Mr Dayal added.

Apart from the bus, two trailers and two cars have also been damaged in the incident. The DMRC will fully compensate for the damages, the CPRO said.

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