Two workers die in separate accidents at NHAI construction sites in Jammu and Kashmir
JAMMU: Two workers died and one was injured in two separate accidents at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) construction sites in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba and Jammu districts on Tuesday, officials said.
The incidents occurred at the under-construction Delhi, Amritsar and Katra Expressway Corridor – one in the Jakh area of Vijaypur in Samba district and the other in Sidhra in Jammu district.
First incident at Jakh
According to reports, the first incident happened at the construction site near Jakh in Samba district when one segment of the 11th span fell down while lifting and collapsed, resulting in the instant death of one labourer and injury to another.
The deceased was identified as Gautam Sahu, son of Paltan Sahu of Samastipur, Bihar. He was working as a labourer at the site.
The injured worker, identified as Ditish Sahu, son of Naresh Sahu, also from Samastipur, Bihar, was first shifted to a local hospital and later referred to AIIMS, Vijaypur, where his condition is stated to be stable.
NHAI project director Rajiv Kumar said that Gotam Sahu, from Bihar, was engaged in laying the pier of a bridge on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra project in Samba's Jakh when a concrete structure collapsed suddenly, killing him on the spot. Another worker, also from Bihar, suffered injuries, he added.
Second incident at Sidhra
In the second incident, a labourer was seriously injured at Sidhra in Jammu district when the shuttering of the under-construction Expressway Corridor fell down and hit him while he was working below on the ground. He was shifted to GMC Jammu, where he succumbed to his injuries later.
As per a police report, the deceased has been identified as Budhi Singh, son of Dilip Singh of Ramban.
Soon after the incident, police and traffic police teams, besides staff of the construction agency, rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to GMC Hospital. However, doctors declared him brought dead.
His body was handed over to his family members after a post-mortem at GMC. The Sidhra police has registered a case under relevant sections of law in this regard.
Traffic disruption and official response
After the incident at Jakh, the single tube of the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway was totally blocked, leading to a heavy traffic jam on both sides of the highway.
Police officers, including SDPO Vijaypur Arun Jamwal, SHO Vijaypur Parvez Ahmed Khande, and SDM Vijaypur Sandeep Dubey, rushed to the spot.
Officials said that Sahu's wife has been given an immediate relief of Rs 5 lakh from the contractor and Rs 5 lakh from the state administration. Another Rs 5 lakh will be credited to her account, they added.
NHAI clarified that reports of a bridge collapse were incorrect and that no structural failure had occurred. The elevated structure comprises 14 spans, each with 15 segments, and 10 spans have been launched, the authority stated. The 11th span segment slipped during lifting, it said, adding that an Expert Team has been deputed to examine the incident and review the launching process.
NHAI also expressed condolences and stated that the next of kin of the deceased worker shall be appropriately compensated in accordance with the applicable norms.