Jammu, 02 May (H.S.): Three workers died after an under-construction bridge collapsed in the Thathar area of Bantalab in Jammu, officials said, adding that the rescue operation has been concluded after all trapped labourers were recovered.

An official told that four labourers were working beneath the bridge when a section of the structure suddenly gave way, trapping them under debris.

Soon after the incident, teams of Police, Army, SDRF, NDRF and civil administration rushed to the spot and launched a joint rescue operation. “JCBs and other machinery were pressed into service to locate the trapped workers at the earliest,” the official said.

He said one injured labourer was rescued alive and shifted to hospital for treatment, while three others were recovered dead during the overnight operation.

Additional District Development Commissioner (ADC) Jammu, Thakur Sher Singh, told H S that three workers had died while one was rescued alive. “The rescue operation concluded at around 1:00 am and the injured labourer is undergoing treatment at the hospital and is stated to be stable,” he said.

Taking cognisance of the incident, the Jammu and Kashmir Government placed two engineers-Sahil Verma, Incharge Assistant Executive Engineer, and Engineer Sajad Mir, Junior Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Sub-Division Bhalwal-under suspension pending inquiry under Rule 331 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956 into their conduct.

During suspension, both officers shall remain attached with the office of Chief Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Zone Jammu, and will be entitled to suspension allowance as per rules.

The Government also constituted a three-member inquiry committee headed by Engineer Purshotam Kumar, Secretary Technical (Engineer-in-Chief), Public Works (R&B) Department. Arit Gupta, Superintendent Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Circle Jammu South, and Rajan Mengi, Executive Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Division Satwari, are members of the panel.

The committee has been asked to probe all aspects of the incident during execution of work at Thathar, Bantalab, including any dereliction of duty by departmental officers, fix responsibility especially on the executing agency, recommend action against those responsible and suggest measures to prevent such incidents in future.

It has been directed to submit its report within 15 days.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar