The Commonwealth Games in Delhi, scheduled to open in 12 days' time, are under severe threat after a footbridge collapsed, injuring 23 people, and UK officials condemned the still uncompleted athletes' accommodation as "unfit for human habitation". With the first competitors due to arrive at the village in around 48 hours, several national teams expressed doubt that workers could complete the much-delayed building work on time. It is the latest crisis to befall a games already mired in rows over security, poor planning, alleged corruption and a soaring bill for Indian taxpayers. The footbridge connecting a car park with the games' main stadium collapsed as construction crews carried out some last-minute concreting work. At least 23 people were reported to be injured, five seriously, police said. Earlier, team leaders from England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia and Canada expressed grave concerns about the residential towers intended to host the 6,500 athletes during the games, which are to run from 3-14 October. Particular concern surrounds incomplete plumbing and electrical work, and piles of uncleared rubble. According to the Times of India, just 18 of the 34 towers at the village are fully complete. The most strongly worded complaint came from Commonwealth Games Scotland, which released a statement today warning that the accommodation intended for its team was "unsafe and unfit for human habitation" and warned that the event could be called off. It continued: "Representation has been made to the Commonwealth Games Federation to make a realistic decision as to at what point and under what conditions they would determine whether the games will be able to go ahead should the village issues not be resolved." Commonwealth Games England said in a separate statement that it remained "optimistic" that the country's team would still take part. "However, there is a lot still to be done in the village and this needs to be done with some urgency so that it is ready for the arrival of our first athletes on Friday." The Commonwealth Games Federation, which oversees the organisation of the four-yearly event, said it had written to India's government to express "great concern". The federation's president, Michael Fennell, said: "Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that … the Commonwealth Games village is seriously compromised." The head of the New Zealand team, Dave Currie, was even more blunt. He told Radio New Zealand: "The way things are looking, it's not up to scratch. The reality is that if the village is not ready and athletes can't come, the implications are that it's not going to happen." Steve Moneghetti, the former marathon runner who heads Australia's delegation, was slightly more hopeful, saying: "It's probably not up to western standards … but hopefully it will be suitable for the athletes." Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, told BBC radio that there was still a huge amount of work to be done: "We've been told there are piles of rubble lying around the village. They have a very short space of time so we hope the Indian government will put real pressure on the organisers. The Delhi organising committee are running out of time and they need to do it very, very quickly." However, games organisers insisted the village would be ready in time and the issues were largely cosmetic. "There were some flats that the labour force was working on and they had dirtied certain other flats," said Randhir Singh, vice-president of the organising committee. "They will be looked into and I'm sure there will be no problem. We still have two days for the teams to come and the situation will be under control. The buildings are perfect, they've all appreciated, and 24 hours is a long time and we will organise it." When Delhi was awarded the event seven years ago, it was billed as a coming out party for modern India – an economic and political showcase of the sort enjoyed by Beijing in 2008. Instead, critics say the runup to the games has showcased many of the country's failings, including a tendency for large-scale public infrastructure projects to become mired in corruption, delay and political infighting. City authorities have also faced criticism over the removal of migrant shanty towns to make way for the village. Security fears were heightened on Sunday when gunmen on a motorbike shot and injured two Taiwanese tourists near the Jama Masjid mosque, one of Delhi's biggest tourist attraction. Police said there was no immediate information linking the incident to the games. Adding to organisers' woes, even if the event takes place, is the already confirmed absence of several top stars including Usain Bolt, Chris Hoy and Jessica Ennis. It is also unlikely that many events will sell out, while many city hotels complain they are likely to be less full than in a normal October. Credit: The Guardian