New Delhi:
The operation to rescue nine laborers trapped under rubble after an under-construction tunnel collapsed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway resumed on Saturday (May 21) after a fresh landslide had hit said the authorities.
However, he said that the chances of survival of the laborers trapped under the rubble were slim.
A laborer was killed and three others were rescued when the tunnel of T3 on the highway collapsed at around 10.15 pm on Thursday (May 19) near Khooni Nala in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The officials have identified the deceased laborer as Sudhir Roy (31), a native of West Bengal.
Ramban, Deputy Commissioner, Musrat Islam, said in a tweet, “Operation for 09 missing people at Khoni Nala Adi tunnel site today (Saturday) at 5.30 am. are part.”
On Friday (May 20) evening, more than 15 rescuers, including Station House Officer (SHO) Naeem-ul-Haq of Ramsu police station, narrowly escaped during the fresh landslide, following which the authorities suspended the rescue operation. Officials said it could not be resumed till this morning due to the shooting of stones from the hill, heavy rain and strong winds.
He said that with the improvement in the weather conditions, the rescue operation resumed with the first light of day and the officials pressed on three earth movers and rock breakers to reach the stranded workers. Additional personnel along with the magistrate have also been deployed to expedite the rescue operation.
Details of Stranded Laborers:
Jadav Roy (23), Gautam Roy (22), Deepak Roy (33) and Parimal Roy (38), all from West Bengal, are among those still buried under the debris, officials said. Shiv Chauhan (26) from Assam, Navraj Choudhary (26) and Khushi Ram (25), Nepalese nationals, and Muzaffar (38) and Israt (30) residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
All of them were employed by a company that was tasked with auditing the tunnel.
Earlier, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu, Mukesh Singh visited the site, while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha monitored the situation from a control room and found them intermittent. Information about stones obstructing rescue operations were rolled out in public domain following the incident.
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