Three labourers killed in Jammu bridge collapse, one rescued alive
Synopsis
Three labourers lost their lives and one survived after an under-construction bridge suddenly gave way in Jammu's Bantalab area on Friday evening. A joint NDRF-SDRF-Army operation worked through the night to reach the trapped workers — a sobering reminder that India's infrastructure boom continues to exact a human cost, particularly among contract labourers with little safety net.
Key Takeaways
An under-construction bridge collapsed in Bantalab's Thathar area, Jammu city , on Friday evening, 2 May 2025 .
Three labourers were killed and one was rescued alive; the survivor is reported to be in a stable condition.
The nightlong rescue operation concluded at 1 AM on Saturday , involving J&K Police , Indian Army , SDRF , NDRF , and civil administration.
ADC Jammu Thakur Sher Singh confirmed the casualty figures to reporters.
India's deadliest recent bridge collapse — Morbi, Gujarat, 30 October 2022 — killed at least 141 people ; the Jammu incident renews questions about construction site safety.
Three labourers were killed and one was pulled out alive after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Bantalab's Thathar area of Jammu city, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday evening. A nightlong search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies concluded in the early hours of Saturday, 3 May, with the bodies of three workers recovered from beneath the debris of concrete and steel.
How the Collapse Unfolded
The four labourers were working beneath the bridge structure when it gave way suddenly, trapping them under heavy debris. Rescue teams were mobilised almost immediately after the collapse, which occurred around Friday evening, and worked through the night using JCBs and other heavy machinery to clear the rubble and reach the trapped men.
At around 1 AM, teams managed to extract one injured labourer alive. He was rushed to a hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition. The bodies of the remaining three workers were recovered shortly thereafter.
Multi-Agency Response
Teams from J&K Police, the Indian Army, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the civil administration coordinated the overnight operation. Additional District Development Commissioner (ADC) Jammu, Thakur Sher Singh, confirmed the outcome to reporters, stating:
Point of View
Buildings, flyovers — continues to claim lives with troubling regularity, and accountability, when it comes, is rarely swift or systemic. The Morbi tragedy of 2022 prompted national outrage but did not produce a binding national framework for real-time structural audits of active construction sites. Until enforcement catches up with ambition — especially in J&K, where infrastructure expansion is accelerating — the risk to contract labourers, who are often the most vulnerable and least protected, will remain unacceptably high.
NationPress
2 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Jammu bridge collapse?
An under-construction bridge in Bantalab's Thathar area of Jammu city collapsed on Friday evening, 2 May 2025, trapping four labourers under debris of concrete and steel. A nightlong rescue operation recovered three bodies and pulled one worker out alive.
Who carried out the rescue operation in Jammu?
Teams from J&K Police, the Indian Army, SDRF, NDRF, and the civil administration jointly conducted the rescue, using JCBs and heavy machinery. The operation concluded at 1 AM on Saturday.
What is the condition of the labourer rescued alive?
The one labourer rescued alive was immediately shifted to a hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition, according to officials.
Who confirmed the casualties from the Jammu bridge collapse?
Additional District Development Commissioner (ADC) Jammu, Thakur Sher Singh, confirmed to reporters that three workers died and one was rescued alive after the nightlong operation.
How does this compare to past bridge collapses in India?
One of India's deadliest bridge collapses occurred on 30 October 2022, when the Morbi suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in Gujarat gave way, killing at least 141 people and injuring more than 180. The Jammu incident renews longstanding concerns about construction site safety and accountability.
