Officials announced on Sunday that a committee of experts has been established to investigate the incident at Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban District, where 10 workers were injured.

Soon after the cave in of the tunnel, a rescue operation was initiated. It took place on Thursday night (May 19).

Twelve workers were trapped in the rock mass after it fell on workers before they could move them.

Two workers were immediately rescued by rescuers and admitted to hospital.

Intermittent shooting stones and bad weather hampered rescue efforts.

Officials stated that all 10 bodies were found among the debris and the rescue operation ended on Saturday.

The operation involved the army, police as well the NDRF and SDRF as well the ITBP as civil QRTs.

However, it is still not clear if the incident occurred due to work being done there or natural causes.

The Central government has established a committee consisting of three independent experts. They have already been to the site to examine the causes and recommend remedial actions. Based on the report of the Committee, further action will be taken. Official said that NHAI had already begun to deal with such an emergency situation and is also taking all necessary steps to prevent similar mishaps in the future.”

Because of the fragile geology, the area between Digdole section and Khooni Nallah section in Ramban Banihal is susceptible to frequent landslides or shooting stones.

Three packages of tunnels are offered in the Ramban Banihal Section.

Ceigall India Limited, in joint venture with Patel Engineering Limited, was awarded the twin-tube tunnel work in 4-lanes between Digdole and Panthyal on Jammu Srinagar Highway.

Construction work began on February 1.