New Delhi: At least six workers lost their lives after an under construction bridge collapsed during a severe storm in Uttar Pradesh late Thursday night, with rescue teams continuing operations amid fears that the death toll could rise further.
The accident occurred in Hamirpur at a bridge construction site over the Betwa River connecting Morakandar and Kandaur villages. According to officials, the collapse took place around 2 am while labourers were working at the site despite heavy rain and strong winds sweeping through the region.
Authorities said several workers had gathered near construction machinery when sections of the bridge suddenly gave way. Local residents reported that intense winds first caused parts of the structure to crack before supporting pillars collapsed, bringing down multiple bridge segments in quick succession.
Emergency teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. Rescue efforts continued through the morning as workers remained trapped beneath the debris.
Officials confirmed that six people had died in the collapse. Among the victims was 19 year old Kuldeep Nishad from Banda district, identified as the youngest casualty in the incident. The deceased also included Lokendra Nishad, Sawant Yadav, Sabhajit, Pushpendra Singh Chauhan and Rajesh Pal.
Police officials said two bodies were initially recovered while search teams worked to locate additional trapped workers. Authorities also confirmed that three labourers stranded on a bridge pillar were identified during the rescue operation.
The incident has triggered serious concerns over safety arrangements at the construction site, especially as work was reportedly continuing despite severe weather conditions. Local residents claimed the storm that struck the area overnight was unusually strong and may have weakened the partially completed structure before the collapse.
Officials stated that rescue operations were still underway, with teams using heavy machinery and emergency equipment to clear debris and search for survivors. Authorities are expected to investigate whether weather conditions alone caused the collapse or if construction safety lapses also contributed to the tragedy.
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