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28 Feared Dead in Bridge Collapse in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Nov 16: At least 28 persons are feared dead after an under construction bridge collapsed at Bandi, Uri, some 96 kms from the summer capital on Sunday.

The bridge collapsed after the workers were checking it for load capacity. "About 300 sand bags were placed on the bridge on Sunday morning to check the capacity of the bridge. However, it failed to cope with the weight and collapsed. Nearly two dozen labourers and some people passing through the bridge, which was to be inaugurated on November 21, fell in the river Jehlum", the locals said.

Immediately after the incident, the locals, police and army launched an operation to rescue the people. They managed to rescue three people, one of whom later succumbed to their injuries.

A top civil official said that 24 persons are missing after their fall in river Jehlum. "We have recovered the bodies of three persons so far and efforts are on to [recover] other bodies," he said.

A top police official of the area said that through Indian army, the authorities have informed Pakistan army about the mishap. "Since the water flows from here into Pakistan territory we have informed the Pakistan army so that they can launch the operation and help us in fishing out the bodies of the drowned persons," he said.

Meanwhile, the pro-Indian Governor of Kashmir, N N Vohra has ordered a Magisterial inquiry into the incident. "The inquiry will be conducted by the District Magistrate within a period of one week," he said.

He also asked the authorities to overview the rescue and relief operations.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.