Three men from Uttar Pradesh died on Saturday night when their taxi fell off an incomplete bridge over the Ramganga River in Faridpur, Bareilly district. The victims, traveling from Gurugram to Bareilly, were reportedly using Google Maps to navigate from Dataganj in Budaun to Faridpur via Khallpur, unaware of the bridge’s condition.
Villagers Discover the Accident
The incident occurred late at night, leaving the victims stranded without immediate assistance. It was only on Sunday morning that villagers from Khallpur spotted the vehicle under the incomplete bridge and alerted the authorities. Police teams from Faridpur and Dataganj rushed to the spot.
Faridpur Circle Officer (CO) Ashutosh Shivam confirmed the accident, stating that the bodies were retrieved using a boat.
Victims Identified Through Mobile Records
Faridpur SHO Rahul Singh shared that the victims were navigating with Google Maps when the accident occurred. “We recovered the identity card of a Gurugram-based security company in the car,” Singh said. The victims were identified as Nitin Kumar (30), his cousins Ajit Kumar (35) and Amit Kumar (30). Nitin and Ajit, residents of Farrukhabad, worked as drivers for the security firm, while Amit, a distant relative, hailed from Mainpuri. The bodies were sent for autopsy, and their families were informed about the tragedy.
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Relatives Raise Concerns Over Bridge Safety
The victims’ families criticized the lack of safety measures. Nitin’s brother-in-law, Pramod Kumar, said, “They were checking the route using Google Maps and fell from the incomplete bridge. The road should have been blocked, but it wasn’t. The maps shouldn’t have shown that the bridge was complete.” He demanded an investigation into the negligence and accountability for the incident.
Bridge Was Damaged Months Ago
Officials revealed that the Faridpur side of the bridge had been washed away in a flood months earlier. Faridpur SDM Gulab Singh stated, “The bridge is being constructed by UP State Bridge Corporation Ltd, and the approach road in Budaun towards it was open. We have ordered an investigation, and action will be taken against the guilty officials.”
Victims Were En Route to a Family Wedding
The three men were traveling to attend a wedding in Faridpur on Sunday. They had earlier attended a family function in Budaun on Saturday night, prompting them to take the Budaun-Faridpur route instead of the usual Moradabad-Bareilly route.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Authorities have assured strict action against any lapses in road safety and signage.
