Bantalab bridge collapse: 3 workers dead, 1 rescued alive

Jammu, May 2: Three workers died after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Bantalab’s Thathar area of Jammu, officials said, adding that the rescue operation has been concluded after all trapped labourers were recovered.
An official said 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, said 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.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of three workers in a bridge collapse incident at Bantalab on the outskirts of Jammu city.
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls. He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.
The Chief Minister has directed that a thorough inquiry be conducted to ascertain the cause of the collapse and to fix responsibility for any lapses.
According to reports, a portion of a small bridge collapsed yesterday in the Bantalab area, trapping the labourers under the debris. The incident occurred when workers were carrying out repair work on a retaining wall near the bridge. (KNO)