NEW DELHI - Water and power supply lines have been snapped in areas adjoining the Delhi Metro site in south Delhi where an under-construction bridge collapsed killing five people early Sunday. Traffic was also disrupted as most routes leading to the area have been blocked.

Five people, including a site engineer, were killed and 15 others injured in the accident that took place at around 5 a.m. at Zamrudpur near East of Kailash, a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official said.

A Delhi Jal Board water supply pipe has burst, swamping the area in ankle to knee deep water.

Electrical supply in the area has been temporarily disconnected as heavy cranes are working to clear the debris and there was fear of their entanglement in the overhead powerlines, the officials said. Residential areas like Amar Colony, Vikram Vihar and Zamrudpur have been affected.

“Traffic has been diverted at the Kailash Colony market, Amar Colony, the nearby Lady Sri Ram College and Blue Bells School till 6.00 a.m. tomorrow (Monday),” DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.

Dipin Nayyar, a resident of Amar Colony said: They cut off electricity at around 7.45 a.m. And since then there has been no water either - it is difficult. We may be able to cope today since it is a Sunday. But we hope the situation will improve by tomorrow morning.

Shops in the nearby Zamrudpur area have been closed as six cranes are trying to clear the debris and damaged bridge.

The bridge, unhinged from one pillar is still attached precariously to the other pillar and fell in close proximity to the shops.

Siddharth Aggarwal, a shop owner in Zamrudpur village, told IANS: With no water, life is miserable and without electricity, it is very hot. The shops have been shut down that will affect business. Their pace of removing the debris and clearing the damaged area is slow - I don’t think they will be able to clear the area by tomorrow morning.

DMRC has started a helpline number - 23414461 - to inform public about developments.

Ajay Kashyap, joint commissioner of police (south), said: “The process to clear debris in the area is going on at war footing. The traffic in the area is disrupted and commuters should avoid the route connecting East of Kailash to Nehru Place.”