Tunnel collapse leaves 2 dead

SRINAGAR: Two persons were killed and12 others injured in the incident which occurred early in the morning in Kashtiwar tehsil of Doda district in Jammu region.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, Monohar Singh said the incident occurred at 3 am when a portion of a tunnel caved-in.

“They were working at the tunnel when it saved in. We immediately launched a rescue operation and removed dead and injured to the hospital”, he said.

After continuous delays in its commissioning since 1983, the government has set up March 2007 final deadline for the project completion. Built by the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), the run-of-the river project is likely to be shifted to the state government to overcome the power crisis.

“Dul Hasti Project with 390 MW capacity at a cost of Rs 4968 crore will be completed by March 2007. This is a Central project and is likely to be gifted to the State”, said J&K governor SK Sinha.

An officer said the incident occurred when some concrete came down from the ceiling of a tunnel. “The people were removing some pipes when the concrete tumbled.”