Indian bridge collapse kills two

The flyover is a part of Delhi's new metro railway system

At least two people have been killed after part of bridge under construction collapsed and fell onto vehicles below in the Indian capital, Delhi.

Several people were also injured in the incident, which happened as construction workers were using cranes to lift huge concrete slabs.

The flyover is being built as part of Delhi's new metro system.

The network, opened several years ago, is part of improvement work to the capital's public transport system.

A public bus and several cars were travelling under the bridge, when a 150-metre (492ft) section came crashing down in the Shakarpur area - one of the capital's more congested neighbourhoods - of East Delhi.

"The crane was deployed to put up the blocks, suddenly the supporting structure of the crane fell and the people passing underneath were trapped under it," Rajeev, an eyewitness, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

'Technical failure'

Several people, who were trapped under the rubble, have been taken to nearby hospitals. Some are seriously injured and it is feared that the death toll could rise.

Vijay Anand, spokesman for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, said the incident happened due a technical fault.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumdar in Delhi says the fact it happened early on Sunday was perhaps the only reason that casualties were relatively low.

The six-year-old metro system is considered the pride of the city, which has to make do with sub-standard public transport services.

The extension of the metro is under way in several parts of the city. New train lines are being installed for 2010, when the capital will host the Commonwealth Games.