NEW DELHI (AP) — A footbridge being built near the main stadium for the Commonwealth Games collapsed Tuesday, injuring 23 construction workers and putting the event in further jeopardy less than two weeks before the opening ceremony.
The accident was the latest setback to New Delhi’s troubled preparations for the games, which bring together more than 7,000 athletes and officials from the 71 countries and territories in the commonwealth every four years.
Of the 23 workers who were hurt, five were seriously injured and taken to hospitals after the collapse of the footbridge, said police officer H.G.S. Dhaliwal.
The bridge connects the JawaHarlal Nehru Stadium — the site of the opening and closing ceremonies and the track and field competition for the Oct. 3-14 games — with a parking lot.
Earlier in the day, Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell contacted the Indian government and urged them to finish work on the athletes’ village, which many have called “unlivable.”
“Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that, as of the afternoon of September 20th, the Commonwealth Games Village is seriously compromised,” Mr. Fennell said in a statement. “The CGF has asked the Cabinet Secretary to immediately deploy the necessary resources to fix all the outstanding issues to an acceptable level.”
The athletes’ village is due to open Thursday. The Times of India reported that only 18 of 34 residential towers at the village are complete.
New Zealand team manager Dave Currie, speaking before the bridge collapse, said the games may not go ahead.
“In the time frame that is left, unless there is tremendous effort and energy and problem-solving ability to get it done, it’s going to be extremely hard to get across the line,” Mr. Currie told New Zealand radio network newstalkZB. “If the village is not ready and athletes can’t come, obviously the implications of that are that [the event] is not going to happen.”
Mr. Currie said New Zealand would consult with other countries before deciding on whether to participate.
“That’s not a decision that we’ll make [alone], but there are some realities,” he said.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the areas of concern “aren’t insurmountable, although there are real concerns about whether they can be achieved in the time frame.”
He added it was “unlikely that New Zealand would make a call that other countries weren’t prepared to make.”
The buildup to the Commonwealth Games has been plagued by construction problems, causing concern over the safety and quality of the buildings and speculation about corruption in awarding of contracts and structural compliance certificates.
Those construction delays have been overshadowed more recently by safety concerns, heightened over the weekend after two gunmen on a motorcycle shot and wounded two tourists near the Jama Masjid, one of India’s biggest mosques.
View Entire Story
By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.
A collection of reader guest articles, thoughts and opinions by Communities writers and breaking news and information.
Great discoveries in the world of restaurants and chefs fulfill the quest for delicious food and cooking.
Paul Rondeau dissects the propaganda, media tricks, and other shenanigans targeting our families, faith, and freedom…and even life itself
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
NRA kicks off annual convention
8 Photos
