The Centre on Sunday ordered a probe into the collapse of an under-construction tunnel along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway which led to the death of 10 workers.
According to sources, basic protection measures were compromised as the company executing the work had not taken necessary safety measures before drilling, blasting and excavating the tunnel at Khoni Nallah.
A three-member expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will investigate the reasons behind the collapse and also give suggestions on how to prevent such incidents in future.
"A committee of three independent experts has been constituted by the central government which has already moved to the site to investigate the reasons for the collapse. Further action will be taken based on the committee's report," said an official statement.
Professor JT Sahu of IIT Delhi will be the chairman of the probe committee. It will submit its report to the government within 10 days.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has already initiated a process to handle such emergency situations and to avoid such incidents in future.
Bodies of all the 10 labourers were recovered after a 36-hour long rescue operation at Khoni Nallah.
What went wrong?
Experts say basic protection measures may have been comprised. For example, right above the tunnel's opening, slope stabilisation and rock fall protection work is prerequisite. These measures were not taken before the workers started work on the tunnel.
"Before drilling, blasting and excavating, works like rock-bolt, wire mesh and shotcrete have to be carried out. It's a must," said an expert, adding that when a tunnel excavation is carried out, a de-pressured zone is created right above the tunnel's opening.
Police said they have filed an FIR against the company engaged in the work for negligence.
PM Modi Launches India's Longest Transportation Tunnel In Jammu And Kashmir Key Maroge Tunnel On Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Thrown Open Thousands Of Vehicles Stuck After Landslide Blocks Jammu-Srinagar Highway Pakistan Tries To Arm-Twist China Over Gwadar Port. The Plan Backfires. "Human Error" Caused Chopper Crash That Killed CDS Bipin Rawat: Panel Report Video: Rahul Gandhi Approaches BJP MP Who Fell During Protest, This Happens BJP Leaders Flock To Hospital To Visit Injured MPs "I Am Shocked": Mamata Banerjee On Amit Shah's Ambedkar Remarks "Human Error" Caused Chopper Crash That Killed CDS Bipin Rawat: Panel Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.