Bridge collapse at Uri: 4 dead, 23 missing

Four labourers were killed after a NHPC bridge collapsed on Sunday during load testing at Uri. The toll will rise as the rescue operation is underway and around 23 people, including six pedestrians, are feared buried under the debris.

Four labourers were killed after a National Hydel Power Corporation NHPC bridge collapsed on Sunday during load testing at Uri. The toll will rise as the rescue operation is underway and around 23 people, including six pedestrians, are feared buried under the debris.

This bridge over the Jhelum connected Bandi village to Parampillan that further connects Salamabad through an alternate road. The first half of the 130- feet bridge, first of its kind in the Kashmir valley, was made of concrete while the other half of iron.

8220;We have recovered three bodies so far. An injured labourer also succumbed,8221; Sub Divisional Police Officer SDPO Uri, Niresh Jamwal, told The Indian Express. On Sunday morning when the construction company was testing the bridge for load, its iron part collapsed.

8220;The iron sheets were placed first. However, when sand bags were put over the sheets, the bridge collapsed,8221; said Irshad Ahmad, an eyewitness. 8220;The part of the bridge, made of iron, couldn8217;t withstand the load.8221;

Soon after the accident, the J-K Police and Army launched a rescue operation. Till late in the evening, only three bodies were retrieved. 8220;Twenty-three people, including six locals, are feared to have come under the collapsed bridge,8221; said SDPO Jamwal.

The J-K Police had suspended the rescue operation in the evening but resumed it after the Army arranged special flash lights.

The bridge that rested only on two pillars on two banks of the Jehlum was around 300 meters above the river.

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Officials at the NHPC said the load testing was being carried out by a construction company. 8220;The bridge was being tested for weight when the mishap happened,8221; said a senior official of NHPC, Dr Wara Prasad.

8220;A Chandigarh-based company, Sham Lal Gupta and brothers, had bagged the contract for the construction of the bridge.8221;

The J-K Police have registered a case of negligence against the construction firm. 8220;A case under Sections 304 A negligence and 167 Death caused without intention has been registered against the construction company,8221; said SDPO Jamwal.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More