Srinagar: Seven labourers from Baramulla district were killed and one more, stated to be 16-year-old, is missing when a mountain portion caved-in while a poclain was working during construction of a road near Bansbada area in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Friday.

Station House Officer (SHO), Ukhimath, Hoshiyar Pankholi told over phone that a group of around 15 labourers from Baramulla district were working when the poclian removed some portion of the mountain following which a large portion caved-in, as a result of which all of them got buried.

“We have recovered seven bodies while other labourers managed to come out of it while one labourer, stated to be 16 years of age is still missing,” he said.

The officer said that the rescue operation has been suspended for now and would be resumed early on Saturday.

He said that a case under IPC sections of 304A 336, 337, 338 has been registered in concerned police station Ukhimath.

The police identified the deceased as Bilal (20) resident of Uri, Sibbeer (30) of Bagna Baramulla, Abdul Rashid (60) of Uri, Imtiaz Ahmad (26) of Handlanga Baramulla, Mushtaq Ahmad (30) of Uri, J Hamid Sheikh (30) of Uri, and  Gulzar (20) of Uri.

Some of those who managed an escape also suffered injuries and were identified as Altaf Hajam (55) son Ghulam Kadar Hassan, Handlanga village in Uri, Abbas (20) son of Subhan Shekh of Handlanga in Uri, Altaf Hussain (45) Mothal in Uri.

Earlier, the SHO said soon after the information was received, a rescue work was started immediately without any delay by police and locals. In the first place, he said, the workers were taken away from the scene by the help of locals, and the injured were taken away from the scene.

A senior civil officer of the district said that fire service and SDRF teams also reached the spot.

“In the event of the incident, the major negligence of the executive body has come up. They were being provided work without the safety standards of the workers, resulting in such a major accident, in relation to which the police investigated the necessary legal proceedings Is being implemented,” the officer said.

District Commissioner of the area said over phone that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident. (GNS)