Ramban tunnel collapse: The centre forms a three-member commission to investigate

The Centre has formed a committee of three impartial experts to look into the causes of the recent collapse of a section of an under-construction tunnel in Ramban on the Jammu-Srinagar route and provide solutions.

According to an official statement released on Sunday, the state-owned National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has already started a process to deal with such an emergency situation and is taking all necessary precautions to avoid such accidents in the future (May 22).

""The central government has formed a committee of three independent eminent specialists, which has already arrived on the scene to evaluate the causes of the slide/collapse and possible solutions. Based on the committee's report, further action would be taken "it said.

Professor JT Sahu of IIT Delhi will lead the group, which will present its findings to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) within 10 days, according to an office directive from the ministry.

According to the official declaration, the Ramban Banihal portion between Digdole and Khooni Nallah is prone to landslides and shooting stones due to its unstable geology.

Tunnels and viaducts are planned under three packages in the Ramban-Banihal stretch, it said, in light of the strategic necessity of preserving all-weather connection to Srinagar and after considering the problems in guaranteeing the stability of hill slopes on the existing alignment.

"On May 19, 2022, between 10.30 and 11:00 p.m., a land slip and stone firing began, while work on the portal support installation construction of the adit at Khooni Nallah continued. Before the employees could be relocated, a massive rock mass collapsed above the false steel portal created for the building of the adit, trapping 12 workers "According to the statement.