The Commonwealth Games preparations have collapsed into crisis after a bridge gave way outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, injuring 27 workers. The stadium will be the site for the opening ceremony and athletics, beginning Oct. 3.
With the games set to kick off in only 12 days, this is the latest debacle in a series of issues that has plagued the project for several months, including allegations centering on corruption and building safety.
The steel and concrete walkway collapsed while workers were paving it. "I saw several people with bleeding arms and injuries on their bodies being taken away," said a construction worker, AFP reported.
The Indian Government has blacklisted PNR Infrastructure, the company that was constructing the bridge, and is demanding an investigation. But critics have also expressed concern that the athletes’ village is “uninhabitable,” including Mike Hooper, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
The international event was hoped to strengthen and showcase India’s new status as a world economic power. However, fears have arisen for health, safety, and now security, regarding militant attacks, following the weekend’s gun assault at a Delhi mosque.
An Australian TV news crew even highlighted the security issues by carrying a case of explosives into the stadium without being stopped, UK tabloid the Daily Mail reported.
Australia’s discus-thrower, Dani Samuels, has already pulled out due to health and security fears. And other athletes like Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and British triple-jumper Phillips Idowu have stated they will not attend.
Michael Fennell, Commonwealth Games Federation president, believes the village is "seriously compromised" and has voiced "great concern" to the Indian Cabinet Secretary in writing, according to the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, thousands of labourers continue to work hard to complete the preparations.
"The athletes will arrive here from the evening of Sept. 23 and we are doing our best to clean the entire village well in time," said Lalit Bhanot, official games spokesman and organising committee secretary-general.
"Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards,” he added, according to AFP.
