JAMMU, MAY 20

One labourer was killed and nine others were feared trapped after a portion of an under-construction tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district collapsed late on Thursday night .

Three persons have been taken out of the rubble even as rescue operations are underway.

A small portion of the front side of the tunnel at Khoni nallah collapsed during an audit.

Multiple tunnels are being constructed on the Banihal-Ramban section of the road which is the most difficult portion of the ambitious four-laning of the highway.

Union minister Jitendra Singh termed the collapse of a part of the under-construction tunnel on the national highway stretch between Ramban and Ramsu “unfortunate”.

“I’m in constant touch with DC Mussrat Islam. Nearly 10 labour workers were trapped under the debris. Another two were rescued and hospitalised with injuries. Rescue operations going on in full swing. Civil administration and police authorities are monitoring the situation,” he said.

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.