The collapse of an under- construction over-bridge in South Delhi on Sunday was the second major accident in the history of Delhi Metro, which enjoys a "fine reputation". The accident at Zamroodpur in south Delhi this morning that has claimed five lives so far comes nine months after the collapse of a portion of an under-construction bridge in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar, killing two labourers. Prima facie, Delhi Metro officials said, Sunday's accident took place due to a "problem in the design" of the pillar.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday said that she expected the Delhi Metro, which enjoys a "fine reputation", will take appropriate action against those responsible for the mishap. The Delhi Metro in its nearly decade-old history has also witnessed smaller accidents at its construction sites. On June 30, a Delhi Metro crane hit a Wagon R car in a chain collision on Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road but no one was injured.

In another incident, a prisoner was injured after he got dragged by a Metro train across the length of the Chandni Chowk platform on September 30 last year. A crane at the construction site near Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after developing defects dropped a four-tonne iron beam on a passing car in July, 2008 in which one person suffered serious injuries.

In January last year, a labourer was killed at the Laxmi Nagar Metro construction site while he was carrying out burrowing work. Similarly in August 28, 2007, a crane driver died after a concrete block fell on him due to a "technical failure" at a Delhi Metro construction site in Mayur Vihar in east Delhi. A section of people, including opposition BJP, allege that extra pressure was being put on the contractors to meet deadlines in view of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. "We know that the Metro is doing a good job. But we feel that the contractors are being pressurised to complete the jobs ahead of the Commonwealth Games as many of the projects are well delayed," a senior BJP leader said.