Several trapped as under-construction tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar highway collapses

At least 10 labourers working inside T3 tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Makerkote in Ramsu near Khooni Nallah were trapped inside it after a portion of it caved in around 10.15 pm on Thursday.

This tunnel is being constructed to by-pass the landslide prone area in Panthial on National Highway 44.

According to Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam, the labourers worked with the Sarla Company engaged in the construction of the tunnel.

While three of them have been rescued, at least 10 others are still trapped under the debris.

Rescue operations started around midnight while the shooting stones remained active, which has been hampering the evacuation process.

The operation is likely to take time as rock breakers are being used to create an opening.

The missing workers have been identified as Jadav Roy (23), Gautam Roy (22), Sudhir Roy (31), Dipak Roy (33), Parimal Roy (38), Shiva Chowhan (26), Nawaraj Chowdhury (26), Kushi Ram (25), Mujaffar (38), Israt (30), Vishnu Gola (33) and Ameen (26).

While five of them are from West Bengal, two are from Nepal, one from Assam, and the remaining two were locals.

Those rescued were admitted to the District Hospital in Ramban Ameen. One of them was later referred to GMC Jammu.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ramban, DIG Dr Sunil Gupta, SSP Mohita Sharma and Senior NHAI officers have been supervising the rescue operation since midnight.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh have also rushed to the spot.