Click to play videoNew Delhi: The second mishap at the Delhi Metro rail construction site in south Delhi in as many days has left the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials speechless.
A 150-tonne launcher came crashing down, pulling down at least four cranes with it at the Sunday accident site, when five people were killed after a part of the metro rail over-bridge collapsed. The cranes were a part of the clearing up operation.
More than 24 hours of relief work has gone waste and officials now say they will have to start afresh and it could be another 24 hours before a level of normalcy can be attained.
An FIR for negligence in construction and handling of machinery has been filed in Monday's crane mishap in which at least six people have been reportedly injured.
But what caused the second accident? DMRC says it was a technical failure.
"One of the high capacity cranes developed a mechanical failure as its boom developed cracks and snapped," says DMRC Public Relations Officer Anuj Dayal.
Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy rejected all speculation that the pressure to meet the 2010 Commonwealth Games deadline was at the cost of safety norms. He said that those responsible for the negligence would be punished.
"We are no doubt keen to complete various projects relating to the Commonwealth Games, but we will never compromise on the quality of the work," says Reddy.
Mumbai-based Gammon Infrastructure, the firm in the eye of the storm, called the incident unfortunate.
"Gammon is internally investigating this accident and will fully cooperate with the inquiry committee appointed by the DMRC," said a representative of Gammon Infrastructure.
Meanwhile, there was some relief for the Delhi government; DMRC Chief E Sreedharan - who had resigned taking moral responsibility after Sunday's accident - withdrew his resignation following pressure from the Urban Development Ministry and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
"Dr E Sreedharan has decided to withdraw his resignation," says Anuj Dayal.
However, the faith of Delhiites in DMRC's operations has been shaken after the two accidents taking place with a span of 24 hours.
(With inputs from Marya Shakil)
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