Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
4 killed, 15 injured as landslides hit project site in Jammu distt
JAMMU: Four people, including a JCB driver and a policeman, were killed and 15 others sustained injuries on Saturday after two landslides hit an area where labourers were constructing a link road near a power project site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said.
Labourers were working on the construction of a link road at Drabshalla-Rattle power project site and a JCB machine was digging when a big boulder rolled down, trapping the workers, officials familiar with the matter said.
A rescue team was rushed to the site but another landslide hit the area that trapped the rescuers, he added.
Army, police and administration were immediately deployed in the area to carry out the rescue operation, he said.
“One Vinay Roy was rescued while four bodies have been recovered. 10 to 15 others sustained minor injuries. The operation is over,” senior superintendent of police (Kishtwar), Shafqat Bhat, said.
The deceased have been identified as police constable Mohammad Yakoob, JCB driver Manoj Kumar and Sachin Thakur, Moin Ahmed, Bhat added.
According to the police, in the first landslide, Kumar and three others were trapped in the debris, and when some people rushed to help them, they were hit by another landslide that trapped all of them.
The rescue team of about six people, deputed to the site after the incident, has also unfortunately got trapped under the debris.
JITENDRA SINGH,
MP
Jitendra Singh, Union minister and MP from Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur, said that he spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Devansh Yadav after receiving a report on the landslide and took stock of the situation.
“The JCB driver unfortunately died on the spot. The rescue team of about six people, deputed to the site after the incident, has also unfortunately got trapped under the debris,” Singh said in a tweet.
“Further assistance, as required, (is) being provided. I am in constant touch with the district administration,” he added.
Another official informed that five injured, including a sub inspector, have been shifted to Doda government medical college and sub district hospital at Thathri.
The official, however, denied reports of tunnel collapse inside the power project.