3 Laborers Die, 2 Injured in Jammu Bridge Repair Collapse

Three laborers died and two others were injured when a section of an old bridge partially collapsed during repair work on the outskirts of Jammu on Friday afternoon, officials said.

The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the Thuther area of Bantalab, where workers were repairing a retaining wall and strengthening the foundation of the bridge, which had been damaged in flash floods the previous year. Officials reported that four laborers became trapped when the structure suddenly gave way. Emergency teams from the police, army, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and fire and emergency services launched a 12-hour search and rescue operation under floodlights, which concluded Saturday morning.

Rescue workers first pulled out laborer Tarsem Lal alive shortly after the collapse and rushed him to a hospital. The operation later recovered the bodies of the three deceased workers. Among the two others rescued in injured condition was Divisional Fire Officer Mohammad Jaffar, who was struck by a falling boulder while aiding the effort. Both injured individuals received hospital treatment. Accounts from family members at the site indicated that six workers...