Delhi bridge collapse: Declared unsafe, 33-year-old FOB closed for public use since july with restrictions imposed

NEW DELHI: Delhi govt has formed a three-member committee to investigate the bridge collapse in north Delhi's Roop Nagar and submit a report within 48 hours, minister Parvesh Verma said on Tuesday.

The Public Works Department minister has also ordered a safety audit of all similar foot overbridges across the city. The 60-foot FOB over the Najafgarh drain collapsed earlier in the day, killing a woman.

Officials said the bridge near Mother Dairy in Roop Nagar was constructed around 33 years ago and had significantly deteriorated over time. It was inspected in March 2025 and was found to be structurally unsafe, they pointed out. Acting on this assessment, authorities closed the FOB for public use in July 2025 and put in place necessary restrictions, they claimed. However, despite these measures, it was still being used by some people, they alleged.

Preliminary assessment suggests that the collapse may have occurred due to structural deterioration of the bridge, said officials. "We have constituted a committee to examine all aspects, including the condition of the structure and the circumstances leading to the collapse. Responsibility will be fixed based on the findings and necessary action will follow," Verma said.

On Tuesday morning, police received a PCR call about the incident. The woman was sitting near one end of the bridge and was a beggar, said officials. The area has been fully cordoned off to prevent any further incident, they added.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said people were dying in accidents every other day in the city, either due to bridge collapse or falling into drains, accidents due to waterlogging and potholes on the roads, and other governance failures.

"The administration has totally failed to renovate the dilapidated civic infrastructure. It should conduct an administrative inquiry on the condition of dilapidated bridges, buildings, institutions and roads, and give an ex gratia payment of Rs 50 lakh to the family of the deceased woman," he demanded.