UP bridge deaths: Several red flags, but not on the road that mattered

The victims were connected their mode to Bareilly to be a wedding relation and were utilizing Google Maps erstwhile the incidental took place, their families say. The incomplete span spans the Ramganga river, connecting Dataganj successful Budaun to Faridpur successful Bareilly.

The territory medication has registered an FIR against 4 engineers from the PWD’s Budaun unit, charging them with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. No apprehension has been made truthful far. The accused see inferior engineers Mohammad Arif and Abhishek Kumar, arsenic good arsenic Additional Engineers Ajay Gangwar and Maharaj Singh.

Executive technologist Naresh Kumar has besides been held liable successful the PWD’s preliminary enquiry, though his sanction does not fig successful the FIR.

Three persons were killed successful the incident. (PTI)

The preliminary enquiry revealed that due barricades oregon signboards were not installed to alert commuters astir the unfinished bridge. Additionally, a partition that had been built to artifact access, but aboriginal damaged by miscreants, was ne'er reconstructed, allowing vehicles to attack the incomplete structure, the preliminary enquiry found. “Naresh Kumar, who is the caput of the unit, is besides among the 5 engineers identified. In the inspection study sent to the office successful Lucknow, I recommended departmental enactment against them,” said PWD main technologist Ajay Kumar.

The operation of the span began successful 2018-19. Initially, the UP State Bridge Corporation and the PWD jointly undertook the project, with the PWD liable for constructing the attack road. In 2021, aft completing its portion, the Bridge Corporation handed implicit the span to the PWD to wrapper things up.

Officials assertion that the attack roadworthy connected the Faridpur broadside was nether operation erstwhile the Ramganga stream changed its course. Around 14 months ago, the under-construction conception connected the Faridpur broadside was washed distant successful a flood, leaving the span incomplete, said an authoritative of PWD. Chief technologist Kumar said barricades person present been installed, and explained that since the river’s people has shifted, they person requested that a exemplary survey of the span beryllium conducted. The survey volition find the area, direction, and grade to which the span needs to beryllium extended, and what precautions are needed truthful that specified a happening does not hap again. The 3 who died person been identified arsenic Amit Kumar (34), Vivek Kumar (32), and his relative Nitin Kaushal (33).

Amit Kumar, primitively from Mainpuri, ran a information bureau successful Gurgaon. Vivek and Nitin worked with him. Amit lived successful Gurgaon with his woman and 3 children, portion the families of Vivek and Nitin resided successful Farrukhabad.

Amit’s younger brother, Sunil Kumar, said, “After graduating, Amit moved to Gurgaon and started moving there. Later, helium opened a information bureau and got married. His decease is tragic, and truthful far, nary authorities officials person travel to conscionable us.” Sunil said Amit had returned location with his household astir Diwali and stayed for 15 days. Vivek and Nitin’s families lived successful the aforesaid locality.

Nitin’s younger member Gulshan Kumar said, “The 3 were connected their mode to a wedding relation successful Bareilly erstwhile the incidental took place. We are shocked astatine however careless a authorities bureau tin be. No 1 bothered to enactment up a signboard oregon immoderate obstruction to bespeak that this roadworthy was unsafe. Nitin is survived by his woman and a month-old son.” He said Nitin had been moving successful Gurgaon for the past 9 years.

Vivek Kumar is survived by his woman and 2 children. “He had been surviving successful Gurgaon for implicit a decade. On Sunday, Vivek was going to be his cousin’s wedding successful Bareilly. On Sunday evening, helium called his relative Govind that helium had reached Dataganj, and would usage Google Maps to scope Faridpur successful different 15-20 minutes. The mishap took spot erstwhile helium got connected the span from Dataganj,” said Vivek’s begetter Harendra Kumar.