Centre today ordered an inquiry into the incident at the AIIMS where two labourers were killed and three seriously injured when earth caved in at a construction site on its premises.
Official sources in the Union Health Ministry said all necessary steps are being taken to provide "succour" to the affected families while the construction company will also provide Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to those injured as immediate relief.
Directions have also been issued to all construction agencies at various sites of the ministry to observe strict safety protocols.
"All necessary steps are being taken to provide succour to the bereaved families and the families of those injured. Those injured will be treated free of cost at the AIIMS Hospital.
"In addition, the construction company is providing Rs 5 lakh to family of the deceased and a sum of Rs 1 lakh to those injured, as immediate relief. This compensation is over and above the amount which would be payable by the insurance company, as all workers were insured," a source said, attributing the mishap to "mud slide".
The incident took place around 12.15 pm and the victims were identified as Vinod (35) and Islam (30), who worked as labourers at the contruction site of the institute's new Mother-cum-Child OPD block near Masjid Moth side, close to the mortuary, an official said.
Director of AIIMS professor M C Misra also visited the site along with senior officials and met the officials of Delhi Police, NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, engineers and workers immediately after the incident.
Gyanesh Pandey, Chairman of HSCC, which is the project management company, also visited the site and took stock of the situation.
While one person had already died by the time he could be pulled out, the other succumbed to inuries in the hospital. All injured persons were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital and later shifted to JPN Trauma Centre.
The police have registered a case under IPC sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence) in connection with the matter, a senior police official added.
