Bridge collapse takes residents by surprise

For residents of the Sewa Nagar railway colony, located in the vicinity of the collapsed pedestrian bridge, the incident seemed no less than an earthquake. Residents said although they had become accustomed to police sirens, owing to the proximity of the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium -- the main venue for the Commonwealth Games – the sound of the bridge coming apart jolted them badly.

For residents of the Sewa Nagar railway colony, located in the vicinity of the collapsed pedestrian bridge, the incident seemed no less than an earthquake. Residents said although they had become accustomed to police sirens, owing to the proximity of the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium -- the main venue for the Commonwealth Games – the sound of the bridge coming apart jolted them badly.

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After the Jama Masjid attack two days ago, some even thought it was a bomb blast. “Two days ago, an attack took place at the Jama Masjid. When the bridge collapsed, I feared that a blast has taken place near the stadium, owing to its sensitive nature,” said Virendra Singh, another resident.

Most of them were taking their afternoon nap when they were woken up by the crashing sound. “There were four deafening sounds in quick succession. For a moment, I thought it was an earthquake,” said Suman Walia, a resident of Sewa Nagar railway colony.

Another resident said when he heard the first sound, he came running out, only to find labourers hanging from iron fixtures. As the pedestrian bridge broke into three parts, before collapsing entirely, several labourers ran for their lives.