six-dead-several-trapped-after-bridge-collapse-in-up

At least six labourers have died, and several others are feared trapped after a portion of an under-construction bridge collapsed during a severe storm in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh this morning.

 

The incident occurred at around 3 am on Friday when a slab of the bridge, being built over the Betwa river between Morakandar Parsani and Naithi village, gave way amid heavy rain and strong winds. Officials said several workers were either sleeping beneath the structure or working nearby when the collapse happened, leaving them buried under debris.

 

Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams immediately rushed to the site and launched rescue operations, with local villagers also assisting in the initial efforts. Authorities said the death toll could rise further as several labourers remain unaccounted for.

 

Hamirpur Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar confirmed that five bodies were recovered initially, with one more death reported later. The deceased have been identified as Lokendra Nishad (22), Kuldeep Nishad (19), Sawant Yadav (28), Sabhajit (30), and Pushpendra Singh Chauhan (34). The identity of one victim is yet to be confirmed.

 

 

The police said an investigation has been initiated into the cause of the collapse, while rescue operations continue on a war footing to locate those still trapped.

 

Following the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed officials to intensify relief and rescue efforts. In a post on X, he described the tragedy as “extremely heartbreaking” and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

 

He also instructed district authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and expedite relief measures, including compensation for the families of the deceased.

 

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, senior officials have been directed to reach the site immediately and monitor rescue operations closely.

 

Meanwhile, the storm that hit the region also caused widespread damage, uprooting trees, damaging houses, and disrupting electricity supply across several areas of Hamirpur.