Melbourne:
Amid rising concerns over security arrangements for next month's Commonwealth Games, Australian government is mulling sending federal police officers with the country's contingent to provide them a high-level security blanket.
With the government bracing for more athletes to pull out of the troubled event, the 'Herald Sun' reported about 15 Australian Federal Police officers will provide a high-level security to the contingent -- though unarmed -- after Sunday's shooting incident near the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi.
Sources said the government was concerned about athletes' families and fans, urging them to register with smartraveller.gov.au and take out travel insurance.
The government said it had reports of possible terrorist attacks in New Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities and its official advice was to "exercise a high degree of caution".
It is also preparing contingency plans to evacuate Australians struck down by dengue fever, a terrorist attack or caught in a monsoon.
A bridge collapse at the main JLN stadium on Tuesday has only heightened Australia's concern about preparations. It is believed the Australian High Commission in Delhi warned Canberra several weeks ago of concerns over the state of the main stadium and other key facilities.
In response to inquiries, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: "Our High Commission in New Delhi is in daily contact with (DFAT) in Canberra on all aspects of the Commonwealth Games preparations including on issues relating to security and safety."