Tunnel Triumph Turns To Tragedy

Ganderbal, Oct 21: The APCO Infratech construction company and its employees were planning a grand celebration on the completion of the Z-Morh Tunnel, a 6.5 km long vital tunnel connecting the tourist destination Sonamarg with the Gagangeer area of Ganderbal district.

However little did they know that that they would be mourning over the loss of their colleagues.

On Sunday evening, at least seven persons including a doctor were killed in an attack on the construction workers near the Gagangeer area of Sonamarg at the site of the Z-Morh Tunnel.

The camp is located along the strategic Srinagar-Leh National Highway.

Five other workers were also injured in the attack, making it one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir in the recent past.

With this incident, the construction company and its employees are in a state of shock and grief over the incident and are still trying to recover.

The colleagues and friends of those who lost their lives in the attack termed it a tragic incident and said that they could not believe that the attack occurred in an otherwise peaceful and safe place.

They said that they had known the victims over the last several years and all of them were friendly and humble.

A senior officer of the APCO construction company said that all seven persons were associated with this project and had been working there for 4 to 6 years now.

“The tunnel work has been completed. We were expecting its inauguration soon,” the APCO official said.

“We are in a state of shock and grief.”

Locals recalled Dr Shahnawaz, a doctor who also lost his life in the attack, as a humble and friendly person.

“I knew him for the last 3 years now. He was such a noble soul. This attack has snatched a good friend and person from me,” one of his friends here said.

The work on the Z-Morh Tunnel coming up at Rs 2378 crore has been completed.

The executing agency had written to the government to take over the tunnel.

However, due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the date of approval and response from the government was awaited. After the completion of the tunnel, the famous tourist destination Sonamarg will be accessible around the year for visitors.

Official sources said that either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari is expected to inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel.