Friday, October 21 2005 20:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu highway, which is the economic lifeline of Kashmir valley, has suffered some damages in the October eight earthquake, which hit the state.

The three-kilometre tunnel, which is considered one of the longest tunnels in Asia, has developed some cracks as the magnitude of the tremor was too big, official sources said.

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

The tunnel has been mentioned in the papers presented by Union Home Ministry before the Cabinet yesterday in the list of important infrastructure damaged in the state.

Union Home Ministry and Border Roads Organisations were silent on the extent of damages to the tunnel.