Due to alleged negligence on the part of construction company engaged for tunnel work on Jammu-Srinagar Four Lane project, the mishap took place at Khooni Nala on late Thursday night, sources claimed. They said that the incident occurred at Khooni Nala on the Jammu-Kashmir National Highway project occurred due to negligence of a private contractor and authorities.
“At least 10 workers died while working in a tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway at Khooni Nallah district in Ramban at 10:15 PM on 19th May. The incident occurred due to negligence of NHAI as well as the main contractor CEIGALL India Pvt Ltd, which had sub-contracted it to SARLA Construction, which was not an approved contractor under NHAI”, sources claimed. They further said that safety norms were flouted by company while executing the works on tunnel. “The companies did not follow any tunnel-construction norms such as manual excavation, which is necessary for 20 meters was not done and the blast was taken on the face of tunnel, thus the tunnel developed cracks & fractures, which led to the collapse. Also, no slope protection measures like pipe roofing, rock bolting was done”, sources alleged. “In fact, there was no geologist present at site, which is necessary for rock classification. PATEL CONSTRUCTIONS, which is the main contractor working with CEIGALL in a joint-venture, was also absent from the site. NHAI had no representation at the site. Its authority engineer, ICT was also unavailable. There was no provision for safety engineer and a proper lighting system for visibility. Even their drawings were not yet approved by NHAI”, sources claimed adding that this company has been flouting all mandated construction norms. They are also installing a stone crusher at Digdoll, Ramban, falling under forest land, the construction of which is stayed by the J&K High Court”, sources claimed.
