The Delhi government has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the overbridge collapse in north Delhi's Roop Nagar area and submit a report within 48 hours, Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Tuesday.The 60-foot bridge over a drain collapsed earlier in the day, killing a woman.
Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Singh has also ordered a safety audit of all similar foot overbridges across the city to assess their safety."The steel truss foot overbridge near Mother Dairy in Roop Nagar was constructed approximately 33 years ago and had significantly deteriorated over time," he said.The bridge was inspected earlier in March 2025 and was found to be structurally unsafe. Acting on this assessment, authorities had closed the bridge for public use in July 2025 and put in place necessary restrictions, he added.
On Tuesday morning, police received a PCR call at 9.28 am regarding the collapse of the bridge in Roop Nagar. Police and other authorities rushed to the spot and retrieved the body of a woman, believed to be aged around 50 years, from the drain below. She was sitting near one end of the bridge and was a beggar, according to 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," the minister added.
According to government officials, preliminary assessment suggests that the collapse may have occurred due to structural deterioration of the old bridge. However, a detailed investigation will be carried out to ascertain the exact cause.The area has been fully cordoned off to prevent any further incidents and ensure smooth handling of the situation, they said.
Hundreds of students on their way to school had crossed the 60-foot bridge over a drain in north Delhi's Roop Nagar on Tuesday morning shortly before it collapsed killing one woman, locals said.
The tragedy could have been much bigger, they said. The bridge, which served as the main access to at least seven government and private schools, gave way at 9.30 am. Had it been earlier, many more could have been killed.
Authorities said the bridge had already been declared unsafe and closed for public movement. Despite barricades, the bridge continued to be used regularly due to the lack of a convenient alternative route, according to residents.It connected Gur Mandi to Roop Nagar and served as a crucial shortcut, reducing travel time by nearly 30 minutes -- as well as the distance by at least one kilometre -- for students heading to the nearby government schools.
It was widely used by locals to also access the nearby markets as, they said, not even a single guard was deputed there who could stop people from using the bridge.Personnel from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Delhi Police carried out a coordinated rescue operation. Multiple fire tenders were deployed, and the area was cordoned off to prevent further accidents.
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