Poonch Tragedy: GREF Worker Killed, 5 Injured in Road Construction Landslide
A tragic accident during road construction in Poonch, J&K, leaves one GREF worker dead and five injured after debris falls on the site.
A routine day of road construction turned into a nightmare in the Sawjian area of Mandi, Jammu and Kashmir, when a sudden landslide claimed the life of one General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) labourer and left five others injured. The accident occurred on the Sawjian-Gulmarg road via Aangan Pathri, sending shockwaves through the local workforce.
The Moment of Impact
The incident took place on Monday while workers were actively engaged in expanding the road infrastructure. According to eyewitness accounts from the site, the tragedy was triggered during the operation of heavy machinery. As the machine worked on the slope, a massive stone broke loose from above and plummeted toward a group of workers gathered below.
Arif Parvez, a fellow GREF labourer, described the harrowing scene, stating that six people were working in a single spot when the debris fell. The impact was immediate and devastating; one worker died instantly on the spot, while the other five sustained various injuries.
"While we were working, a stone fell from above because of a machine. Because of that stone falling, six people were working in one spot below. Out of the six, one person died right there, and five were injured," Parvez told ANI.
Medical Emergency and Casualties
Following the collapse, the injured were rushed to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Mandi. Medical officials at the facility confirmed the casualties, noting that while one person had already succumbed to their injuries at the site, five others required urgent care.
Status of the Injured
The medical team at SDH Mandi has identified the victims and provided updates on their conditions:
- Under treatment at SDH Mandi: Farooq Ahmed, Manzoor Ahmed, and Abdul Majeed. Doctors have stated that their conditions are currently stable.
- Referred to Poonch: Mohammad Ashraf and Sherbaz Ahmed. These two workers were transferred to a larger facility in Poonch for specialized orthopaedic consultation.
The attending doctor confirmed that all five injured workers are stable and are currently undergoing necessary medical investigations.
Call for Justice
As the community grapples with the loss, the surviving workers have voiced their grief and frustration. Arif Parvez made an emotional appeal for the victims and their families, urging the authorities to ensure that justice is served for the "poor guys" who lost their lives or were injured while performing their duties.
Further details regarding the cause of the landslide and the safety protocols in place during the machine operation are still awaited from the officials.