Click to play videoNew Delhi: There was yet another disaster at the Delhi Metro rail construction site in south Delhi where an accident killed six labourers on Sunday.
At least three cranes collapsed at the accident site on Monday morning when clearing operations were on, injuring four workers.
According to initial reports, the cranes were trying to lift a steel girder but toppled over on buildings and slum clusters nearby.
The steel "launching girder" that holds up the elevated viaduct also came crashing down. The truck-mounted cranes had lifted the massive orange girder off the ground when they buckled under the weight.
Television pictures showed the multi-wheeled trucks lifting in the air, ending up in a vertical position.
The trucks ended up resting on their nose with the underbelly in the air. The crane arms lay flattened and mangled.
The reinforced concrete viaduct - that collapsed on Sunday due to cracks in one of the supporting pillars - carries the rail tracks on which the metro trains will move.
DMRC Public Relations Officer Anuj Dayal blames the collapse to a mechanical mishap. He said one of the cranes developed a snag, pulling the others down with it.
"We had put in four cranes to lift the launcher, three of the cranes have toppled over. I can't say the exact reason just now, it seems to be a mismatch between the weight of the launcher and the weight of the crane. There is no injury to anybody, one or two people have very minor scratches apart from that there has been no injury. We will have to clear the site because there are too many people around in that area," he said.
The injured have been rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre, hospital officials said.
The site was expected to be cleared of the Sunday's debris by 1600 hrs IST on Monday but this accident has brought the relief operations to a near halt.
Joint Commissioner of Police (South Delhi), Ajay Kashyap said there were no casualties and no damage to the buildings in the neighbourhood.
"Perhaps the load was transmitted on the cranes which led to the collapse. No injuries or casualties have been reported so far. The DMRC engineers are at the site," he said, adding the traffic had been diverted for commuters' safety.
It was not clear how many operators were in the cabins of the three cranes.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has said the inquiry commission set up after Sunday's accident will submit its report soon.
Sreedharan to stay: CM
Sheila Dikshit also made clear on Monday that she will not accept the resignation of Metro chief E Sreedharan.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporations' managing director resigned on Sunday taking moral responsibility for an accident where six construction labourers were killed and 15 others injured.
"The Metro needs him. He has done a good job not only in Delhi but through out the country. Hence, I have not accepted his resignation," Dikshit told reporters.
Dayal also said E Sreedharan will stay on as DMRC Chief. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is said to have persuaded him.
"The DMRC Managing Director Dr E Sreedharan has decided to withdraw his resignation in view of the letter received at his residence from the Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi Shiela Dikshit," he said.
On Sunday morning, an under-construction bridge collapsed near the Lady Sriram College in south Delhi in one of the worst construction accidents of recent times.
Sreedharan visited the accident spot on Monday morning for an inspection and gave instructions to the site engineers.
He, however, did not speak to the waiting media persons. Sreedharan also did not attend the regular Monday meeting of metro officials, sources said.
Sunday's accident has fuelled allegations that Metro contractors are flouting safety norms, under pressure to meet the 2010 Commonwealth Games deadline.
The DMRC has also set up an inquiry team and the CBI's forensic sleuths visited the area on Sunday to gather clues.
Police have filed an FIR, but no individual or group has been directly charged.
Mild rain on Sunday night hampered clearing operations at the site.
Water supply to neighbouring areas was also disrupted as the pillar fell on a water pipeline.
The concrete slabs that collapsed were part of an elevated section of a new Metro route between the Central Secretariat and Badarpur.
The accident took place around 0500 hrs on Sunday at the construction site at Zamrudpur near Kailash Colony in south Delhi.
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