Three bodies recovered after Kashmir bridge collapse

SRINAGAR: Bodies of three labourers have been recovered on Sunday after a bridge they were working on collapsed into the Jhelum river in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

"We have rescued two injured labourers and fished out three bodies at Parampilla village near Uri town where 24 labourers fell into the swollen Jhelum river after the bridge collapsed this morning," Senior Superintendent of Police Anand Jain said.

The authorities launched a search for the missing men, who comprise 17 non-Kashmiris and seven Kashmiris, who fell into the river at Parampilla village, 94 km from here, near the border town of Uri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

The bridge broke in the middle and plunged into the river when the labourers were working on it. Nineteen labourers are reported missing.

"Because of the recent unexpected heavy rain and snowfall in the valley, the Jhelum river was swollen when the tragedy struck. Many bodies could have been washed away from the site of the bridge collapse. We are doing everything possible to look for survivors and recover the bodies of those who might have died in the incident," Jain said.

Witnesses said the labourers were giving finishing touches to the bridge when it broke up with a loud noise around 9.30 a.m. Sunday.