Dikshit orders probe into bridge collapse

Dikshit, who visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where injured are admitted, also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each for those killed in the "very unfortunate" accident.

The compensation will be paid to the victims by the Delhi Metro, she said.

While Rs five lakh each will be paid to the kin of those killed in the accident at Jhamrudpur in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar, Rs two lakh each will be given to those who suffered serious injuries.

The Chief Minister also said that a compensation of Rs 15,000 each will be given to the others who suffered minor injuries.

Dikshit said a five-member probe committee comprising experts have been constituted to investigate the causes of the collapse.

The committee will try to find "exact reasons behind the mishap", she told reporters here.

Dikshit also said that she expected the Delhi Metro, which enjoys a "fine reputation", to take appropriate action against those responsible for the mishap.

On the action against those responsible for the mishap, she said, it was up to the Delhi Metro "to take whatever action they can because they have such a fine reputation they would not like to ruin. I am sure they will take action."

Whether the accident will delay the Metro's plans, Dikshit said she does not think so.

"It (accident) perhaps will mean re-organising the whole thing. Work has to go on. But accountability also should be established and whoever has been careless about it should be accordingly punished," Dikshit, who was accompanied by Health Minister Kiran Walia, said.

Asked whether pressure due to Commonwealth Games next year was resulting in compromise in the safety standards, she answered in the negative.

"I don't think that the incident had happened because of work pressure. It is not that to meet deadline, you don't work properly or you compromise on safety standards," the Chief Minister said.

Dikshit said she was confident that the Delhi Metro will adopt more precautions while implementing its projects.