Bareilly: In a tragic accident in Bareilly, three youths, including two brothers, lost their lives when their car plunged into the Ramganga River after falling off an incomplete bridge. The incident occurred early Sunday morning in the Khalpur area of the Faridpur police station. The deceased were identified as Vivek Kumar, Amit, and their friend Ajit, who were on their way to a wedding in Farrukhabad using Google Maps for navigation.
The three men, traveling in a WagonR, relied on GPS navigation to direct them to a half-constructed bridge over the Ramganga River. Due to dense fog, the incomplete state of the bridge went unnoticed, leading to the car falling 50 feet into the river. Locals in nearby fields rushed to the scene after hearing a loud crash and alerted the police. The car was later retrieved from the river with the help of a crane. Tragically, all three occupants were found dead inside the vehicle.
The victims, identified through ID cards, hailed from Imadpur village in Farrukhabad and were employees of a security company in Gurugram. Amit owned the security firm, while Ajit worked as a field officer. The third victim, Nitin, was an Ola driver who owned the car used for the journey. They were traveling to attend the wedding of Vivek and Amit’s cousin’s daughter.
The bridge, which connects Faridpur in Bareilly to Dataganj in Badaun, was reportedly damaged and incomplete due to floods. No barricades, warning signs, or safety measures were in place to alert travelers. Villagers and family members of the victims have criticized the negligence of the bridge corporation and district administration, holding them responsible for the accident.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, a relative of the deceased, expressed his anguish, stating, “They were coming to my daughter’s wedding. The car fell because of the incomplete bridge and Google Maps misguiding them.”
While the negligence of local authorities is apparent, reliance on GPS technology in areas with poor network coverage and incomplete infrastructure also played a role. Experts suggest that issues like weak GPS signals, lack of updated maps, or phone settings such as battery-saving modes could lead to misdirection.
