Even as rescue teams retrieved three bodies and rescued an injured person from the debris, the collapse of a bridge in the Thathar area on the outskirts of Jammu city has exposed the casual approach of the authorities as well as serious departmental lapses during construction.
The contractor and officials are attempting to shirk responsibility for the tragic incident in which three labourers lost their lives. Initial investigations revealed that the workers were made to work in wet mud without even basic safety gear such as shoes and helmets.
Three bodies were recovered from the debris of a partially collapsed old bridge during a 12-hour search operation on the outskirts of Jammu. One injured worker was rescued on Friday, shortly after a portion of the bridge collapsed in the Thathar area of Bantalab.
During construction, a pipeline leak weakened the soil, ultimately leading to the accident. Labourers working without safety equipment were buried under the debris, following which a high-level investigation was launched.
The accident near the bridge in Thathar was not a natural disaster but the result of negligence and failure to adhere to safety standards. The conditions at the site clearly reflect the extent of carelessness during construction. Workers were forced to work in wet mud without proper safety equipment, including helmets and shoes.
As per regulations, helmets, reflector jackets, and high gumboots (safety shoes) are mandatory for workers at any construction or excavation site. However, the workers rescued from the debris were found wearing ordinary clothes and without proper footwear. Had they been equipped adequately, they might have been able to escape or better manage the situation.
The Public Works Department (PWD) had allotted the work to a contractor who, in an apparent attempt to complete the project quickly, ignored safety norms. Officials appeared to have distanced themselves after awarding the contract, often arriving only after accidents occur. The absence of a safety officer or site supervisor is being viewed as a major lapse.
The bridge accident near Thathar Petrol Pump has also highlighted alleged negligence by the Jal Shakti Department. A water pipeline running beneath the bridge had reportedly been leaking for a long time, weakening the soil structure. This leak is believed to have triggered the collapse, burying the workers under the debris.
The bridge had earlier been damaged during the floods of August 27, 2025. The PWD subsequently issued a tender worth ₹1.84 lakh for its reconstruction, and work had begun only three days prior to the incident. MLA Sham Lal Sharma had inaugurated the project.
The department failed to repair the leaking pipeline before commencing the construction work. PWD Chief Engineer Rajesh Agastam has also acknowledged that the pipeline leak was the primary cause of the structural failure.
The incident has raised serious concerns not only about the pipeline leak but also about the safety protocols followed during construction. Locals have questioned why excavation was carried out without proper safety fencing, especially when the ground conditions were already unstable.
The administration has ordered a high-level probe into the incident. The investigation will focus on whether the contractor and concerned officials compromised worker safety during excavation and who should be held accountable.
Two engineers suspended
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary rushed to the spot at midnight and ordered the suspension of two engineers. The government has also constituted a committee to investigate the incident.
According to officials, labourers were engaged in retaining wall and foundation work on the damaged bridge when a portion of it suddenly collapsed, trapping four workers.
Police, the Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Fire and Emergency Services immediately launched a rescue operation. The teams first pulled out a labourer identified as Tarsem Lal, officials said.
The search and rescue operation concluded on Saturday morning, with three bodies recovered from the site and two injured persons rescued.
Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary was briefed about the situation upon reaching the site.
"I have ordered the suspension of the assistant executive engineer and the junior engineer. Directions have also been issued to the chief engineer for the attachment of the executive engineer," he told reporters.
He further ordered that the probe be completed within five days.
Following his directions, Assistant Executive Engineer Sahil Verma and Junior Engineer Sajad Mir were placed under suspension pending inquiry.
The government has also constituted a three-member inquiry committee headed by Purshotam Kumar, Secretary Technical (Engineer-in-Chief), Public Works (R&B) Department.
Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B), Circle Jammu South, Arit Gupta, and Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B), Satwari Division, Rajan Mengi, have been appointed as members of the panel.
