Car Falls Off Broken UP Bridge: FIR Names Google Maps; Locals Say PWD To Blame For 3 Deaths – News18
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The trio died on November 23 after their car plunged into the Ramganga River from an unmarked, broken bridge on the Bareilly-Budaun border while they were getting directions from Google Maps
An FIR was filed against four engineers of the PWD, along with some unknown people. (Image: X/@aaraynsh)
The Uttar Pradesh Police has registered a first information report (FIR) against four public works department (PWD) officials and others following a tragic incident in Badaun, where three men died after their car plunged into the Ramganga River from an unmarked, broken bridge as they were reportedly getting directions from Google Maps.
The police have also expanded the investigation to include an unnamed regional officer of Google Maps in the FIR.
Locals, while calling the incident a fallout of sheer negligence on the PWD’s part, said the presence of barricades or danger signboards on the broken bridge could have saved the three lives.
A Google spokesperson in a statement said, “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We’re working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue.”
VICTIMS WERE HEADING TO WEDDING
On November 23, three men, who were driving to a wedding in a Wagon R while following a route suggested by Google Maps, plunged into the Ramganga River from an incomplete bridge, which had collapsed earlier due to floods. The victims, including two brothers, Vivek Kumar and Amit from Farrukhabad, died instantly, while the third victim was identified as Amit, who was from the Mainpuri district. They were on their way from Noida to Faridpur in Bareilly to attend a wedding. The incident took place on the Bareilly-Budaun border.
Villagers spotted the damaged car in the river and informed the police. “Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the GPS. As a result, the driver was misled and did not realise the bridge was unsafe,” said circle officer Ashutosh Shivam.
Family members of the victims blamed the administration for leaving the bridge incomplete without proper barricading or warning signs. “The negligence of the administration caused this accident,” a grieving relative said, urging the district magistrate to take strict action to prevent future tragedies.
TAKING CORRECTIVE MEASURES: DISTRICT MAGISTRATE
Nidhi Srivastava, district magistrate, Badaun, said, “The approach road on the Bareilly side of the bridge was washed away during the monsoon last year. The wall on the Budaun side was damaged by some locals, and the car used that road, falling from the abrupt end of the bridge. We have ordered strict action against the officials responsible and are taking corrective measures to ensure such incidents don’t reoccur.”
Besides, she has also issued instructions to the PWD and Setu Nigam to inspect all roads, bridges, flyovers, and underpasses to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
LOCALS SLAM PWD FOR NEGLIGENCE
However, the locals slammed the PWD department. “We heard a loud bang in the morning, seemed like the bridge had collapsed. When we got there, we found a car had fallen from the broken bridge into the river. Had there been any signage or barricades to warn drivers, their lives could have been saved,” said Suraj Kumar, a local.
“They paid no heed to the broken bridge, as if they were waiting for a disaster to wake them from their slumber,” another local said, adding, “Strict action should be taken against them for their negligence.”
2 ASSISTANT, 2 JUNIOR ENGINEERS, 1 UNNAMED GOOGLE MAPS OFFICIAL BOOKED
According to Dataganj Police Station SHO Gaurav Bishnoi, the FIR names two assistant engineers Mohammad Arif and Abhishek Kumar and two junior engineers of the PWD Ajay Gangwar and Maharaj Singh under Section 105 of the BNS (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). “An unnamed regional officer of Google Maps has been brought under the scope of investigation,” Bishnoi said.
The FIR also charges unidentified villagers under BNS Section 304A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) for allegedly damaging a protective wall at the accident site. This is a cognisable and non-bailable offence, carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
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