In a tragic incident on Sunday, three men lost their lives after their car plunged into the Ramganga River from an under-construction bridge in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The car, driven by the three victims, had followed directions from Google Maps, which led them onto an unsafe route, ultimately causing the fatal crash.
The victims, 30-year-old brothers Nitin and Ajit from Farrukhabad district, and 40-year-old Amit from Mainpuri, were en route to a wedding in Faridpur when the accident occurred at the Bareilly-Budaun border. According to local police, the vehicle was directed by the Google Maps navigation app onto a partially constructed bridge, which lacked safety barriers or warning signs. The bridge had been damaged during a flood the previous year, but the authorities had failed to rectify the situation.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, the police in Dataganj have filed an FIR against four engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) for their alleged role in the incident. The case also includes an unnamed official from Google Maps, as the app’s navigation system directed the driver onto the hazardous route. The FIR was filed under Section 105 of the Indian Penal Code for “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” against two Assistant Engineers and two Junior Engineers from PWD, along with unnamed individuals.
Dataganj Police Station SHO, Gaurav Bishnoi, confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway. “The PWD officials are being held responsible for the condition of the bridge, and the regional officer from Google Maps has also been questioned, though they have not been named in the FIR yet,” Bishnoi said.
Budaun District Magistrate Nidhi Srivastava has called for corrective measures at the site and directed PWD and Setu Nigam officials to inspect all roads, bridges, flyovers, and underpasses in the region to prevent similar incidents in the future.
A spokesperson from Google expressed sympathy for the families of the victims, stating, “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We’re working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue.”
In a report from Faridpur Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam, it was revealed that the bridge had been destroyed during a flood last year and had not been repaired adequately. As a result, there were no safety barriers or warning signs to prevent such accidents.
The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of infrastructure and the accuracy of navigation apps. Authorities have promised to take action to ensure the safety of travelers in the region, but the families of the deceased are demanding justice for the preventable deaths.
Sources By Agencies
