7 labourers killed as landslide hits road work site in U’khand

DEHRADUN: At least seven people were killed and three injured in a landslide on the under-construction Char Dham allweather road between Bhiri and Banswara area of Rudraprayag district on Friday afternoon.

The victims were labourers working on the all-weather road project when the incident happened, said officials, adding that a rescue operation is underway.

Rudraprayag district magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyal said the incident happened at around 12.30 pm.

“The construction work on the road was going on when suddenly the landslide happened bringing down debris on the labourers. The local administration and the police were immediately pressed into rescue operation after we got to know about the incident,” he said.

“So far, seven bodies have been recovered and three injured have been rescued from the spot. All the deceased hailed from Jammu & Kashmir. Among the three injured, two are critical, who were airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh, while the third is undergoing treatment in Rurdraprayag district hospital where his condition is stable,” he added.

The traffic movement on the highway is stopped. “The rescue operation is still on as the administration fears that at least one more labourer is trapped under the debris,” Ghildiyal said.

Alok Praveen, an official of the state disaster response force (SDRF), said, “Two teams of the SDRF with required equipment and tool for rescue operation have been sent to the spot from the SDRF base in Gaurikund area. Another team from Gochar is also on the way to join the rescue operation. If it seems that the rescue operation has to be continued in the night also, then more teams would also be sent.”

Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has offered his condolences to the family members of the deceased.