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Jammu, May 2 : Three labourers lost their lives while one was rescued alive after a portion of an under-construction bridge collapsed, and a fire service personnel sustained injuries in the Bantalab area of Jammu on Friday evening, officials said on Saturday.
A senior police officer confirmed to news agency JKNS that the bodies of three labourers have been retrieved and one injured labourer was rescued alive.
He said that two bodies and one injured person were taken out from the debris yesterday late evening, while the third body was retrieved on Saturday morning.
During the rescue operation, one fire service personnel also sustained injuries, the officer said.
The incident occurred at Thathar in Bantalab, where four labourers were working beneath the bridge when a section of the structure suddenly gave way, trapping them under the debris, an official told.
Soon after the collapse, teams from Police, Army, SDRF, NDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, and the civil administration rushed to the spot and launched a massive joint rescue operation. One injured labourer was pulled out alive and immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Officials said the operation continued for nearly 10 hours amid challenging conditions, including darkness and heavy debris. During the course of rescue efforts, a fire service personnel also sustained injuries.
With the help of JCBs and other heavy machinery, rescue teams managed to clear the debris and later retrieved the bodies of the remaining trapped labourers, taking the death toll to three.
The rescue operation has now been concluded, while authorities have taken cognisance of the incident. Further details regarding the cause of the collapse are are yet to be ascertained. (JKNS)
