Delhi Metro chief visits mishap site

Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan on Monday inspected the site where an under-construction bridge collapsed on Sunday night, killing six people.

Sreedharan, who on Sunday resigned from the post owning moral responsibility for the mishap, visited the accident site to take stock of the situation. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has rejected his resignation.

Rains had hampered clearing operations at the site on Sunday night, where huge cranes are being used to clear the debris. Water supply in neighbouring areas has been also disrupted as the pillar fell on a water pipeline.

Traffic continued to be disrupted in the busy Nehru Place area and police have advised people to avoid the Zamrudpur-Lady Shri Ram college route. The accident took place on Sunday when a pillar of the bridge collapsed during some construction work, killing six people.

The DMRC has set up a four-member committee to examine reasons for the accident and the committee is going to submit its report in 10 days.

Describing the accident as 'more serious' than the one that happened in Laxmi Nagar last year, Sreedharan had announced his resignation, taking 'full moral responsibility' for it.

However, after a high-level meeting to discuss the accident on Sunday night, Dikshit decided not to accept the resignation.

Highly placed sources said the Delhi government rejected Sreedharan's resignation as it felt that his continuation was necessary for the successful completion of projects related to Delhi Metro, ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.