New Delhi, Sunday 12 July 2009: Five people were killed when an under-construction flyover of the Delhi Metro collapsed in south Delhi early Sunday morning. Thirteen people were injured and rushed to the AIIMS trauma centre.

The DMRC has set up a five-member committee to probe into the mishap.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit visited AIIMS to meet the injured. She has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who died, Rs 2 lakh for those with serious injuries and Rs 50,000 for those with other injuries.

About 30 workers were at the site when the mishap occurred. One of the pillars broke, leading to the collapse of the concrete slab. A water pipeline also burst as the heavy slab fell on it.

Police, fire brigade and ambulance are at the spot and rescue operation is being carried out.

In a similar incident in October 2008, two people died and 16 were injured when a portion of the an under-construction bridge collapsed and fell on a bus on east Delhi’s busy Vikas Marg.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation blamed the contractor Afcons Infrastructure for the accident but the contractor wasn’t changed as DMRC said that would mean major delays.

The company said it had put many more safety measures in place after this incident.