Clearing operations on at metro mishap site

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 last night hampered clearing operations at the site 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 gave in during some construction work, leaving six persons dead.

DMRC set up a four-member committee to examine reasons for the accident and it would 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 last night, Dikshit decided not to accept the resignation.

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