Under-Construction Tunnel Collapse —- Emergency Exit Plan Missing

It is shocking to know that an under-construction tunnel in Ramban on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Khoni Nallah caved in, burying at least a dozen of workers who were inside the tunnel when the incident happened. While few have been rescued and rushed for treatment, there still are a majority of workers buried under the rubble. The administration is just clueless about the magnitude of the incident, the action plan for rescuing the workers caught under the rubble who probably might not be alive by now as the senior officials of the administration in Jammu Division have stated that there are slim chances of workers to have survived.

Whatever may be the action plan, the incident raises several questions pertaining to the conduct of the company which has been tasked to construct the tunnel on the National Highway. It needs to be brought to the fore whether the company was already in the know-how of the nature of the landscape, and the possibility of such incidents as the work on the tunnel proceeded ahead.

Before taking up the work, such kinds of surveys are carried out to understand and to know the nature of the ground where the work is meant to be carried out. The company which has been given the contract must have also carried out such a survey and there is a need for going through the conclusions of the same to ascertain whether the company deliberately put the lives of the workers at risk, or it was just an accident.

Working on such terrains which usually witness landslides and other occurrences, the workers who are put to work need to adhere to the SOPs aimed at their protection. However, such adherences usually are not followed and need to be taken note of by the concerned authorities.

Also, for the enhanced safety of the workers, sites which can be dangerous, usually have an exit plan to be put to use for evacuation in case of any untoward incident. However, the manner in which these workers have been buried under the rubble, it appears that there was no such plan in place which is tantamount to putting these workers to risk despite knowing the circumstances.

As of now, the administration needs to expedite the operation and ensure that the rubble is cleared and a way is made right up to the trapped workers—who might not be even alive by now—and ensure the speedy treatment of those who might end up alive. In case of any causality and grievous injuries, the company, as well as the Government, should provide ample compensation. What is more important here is that, immediately, without wasting any more time, the Government should order a probe into the matter and the work needs to be halted. The Government can also consider auditing other similar works being carried out on the National Highway. Just to be on the safer side.