NEW DELHI - A LABOURER working on a 2010 Commonwealth Games site in New Delhi died after part of a crane fell on him, dealing a new blow to the controversial project, police said on Monday.

The man was reportedly working on the athletes' village on the banks of the river Yamuna when the accident happened on Sunday.

'Some part of construction material fell on a labourer named Shailendra,' a police statement said.

Police have filed a case of death due to negligence against the private contractor responsible for building the 11-hectare Games village.

The accident sparked protests by hundreds of workers who ransacked three offices of private developer Emaar MGF Land and burnt down several vehicles, media reports said.

Last year the site was hit by an outbreak of meningitis, sparking panic after nine workers were taken to hospital.

The four-yearly Games, featuring 71 teams from the Commonwealth countries, are due to be held from Oct 3-14, 2010.

The athletes' village is already embroiled in a legal tussle after environmental groups complained the construction would ruin the Yamuna river bed.

Last month, Austin Sealy, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation co-ordination committee, warned that India could miss out on hosting the Games if the the dispute was not resolved. -- AFP