JAMMU, MAY 20: At least 10 labourers working inside T3 tunnel along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH44) at Makerkote near Khooni nullah in Ramsu area were reportedly trapped under the debris when a portion of it caved in around 10.15 Thursday night.
This tunnel is being constructed to by-pass Panthial landslide prone area on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH44).
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam, the labourers belonged to Sarla Company engaged in the construction of the tunnel. While of them hailed from West Bengal, two were from Nepal and one from Assam, while the remaining two were locals, he said, adding that efforts were on to rescue them.
While three labourers have been rescued, there are reports that at least 10 persons are still trapped under the cave-in debris.
Rescue operation was started around midnight while the shooting stones remained active. The intermittent shooting stones have been hampering the rescue operation.
Operation is still on and is likely to take more time as rock breakers are being used to create space for reaching the trapped persons.
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).
Divisional Commissioner,Jammu,Ramesh Kumar and ADGP,Jammu,Mukesh Singh have also rushed to the spot from Jammu.