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Jawahar Tunnel damaged by earthquake

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu highway, which is the economic lifeline of Kashmir Valley, has suffered some damage in the October 8 earthquake.

One of the longest in Asia, the three-km the tunnel has developed some cracks as the magnitude of the earthquake was too high, Home Ministry officials said at a presentation on quake relief measures here on Friday. Home Secretary V.K. Duggal was present during the 40-minute presentation which was also made before the Union Cabinet on Thursday.

The tunnel, which cuts through the gigantic Pir Panjal mountain range, is guarded round the clock by the Army and has been operational since December 1956 and was built by German engineers.

The Home Ministry presentation said the Lower Jhelum hydel project, the Watergam water supply tank, Seelo and Chanakahana bridges in Sopore and the Mohara-Uri Road suffered damage. Important buildings which were damaged included Charar-e-Sharief shrine, Jamia Masjid in Kangan and Moti Mahal in Poonch.

In other sectors, 213 electric sub-stations were affected and water supply in 752 villages and 23 towns was affected in the aftermath of the quake.

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