Unintended consequences

False ceiling at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium collapsed during maintenance

Nothing is going right for the Commonwealth Games. Even efforts to set matters straight are not going the intended way. It was during maintenance that a part of the false ceiling fell in the spectator's area on Wednesday morning in the weightlifting stadium inside Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, bringing more embarrassment to the government and the Organising Committee (OC).

"Some maintenance work was being carried out on Aluminium roof. A labourer was walking on the roof which somehow resulted in the two tiles coming down in the spectator's area. Nobody was injured in the incident," said a CPWD official.

The stadium has been constructed by Central Public Works Department. The tiles measures 2 ft by 2 ft. This is the second incident of collapse in the past three days inside the stadium complex. On Monday, a canopy collapsed in which two police personnel, including an Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, suffered minor injuries.

CPWD Director General BK Chug said an enquiry has been ordered but maintained that there was no collapse. "There is no collapse. Some tiles got displaced when a person, who might be a security personnel, walked over an aluminium roof." "We have to take the scaffold to a certain height and tighten it. Nobody was injured in the incident," he added.

Government swung into damage control mode with Urban Development Minister, S Jaipal Reddy and CM Sheila Dikshit appealing to media for refraining from negative coverage. "I would like you tell very categorically that these minor glitches and hitches do come around...but to make out as the whole thing is collapsing - I am sorry, we do not agree with that," Sheila Dikshit said.

"I do not think we should continue to be very negative in our coverage of news. My appeal to all media friends is to present the positive aspects," Reddy later said.