“Tragic Miscommunication: How a GPS Error Led Three to Their Untimely Fate on an Unfinished Bridge”
Imagine relying on a digital map only to find yourself cruising off an unfinished bridge—sounds like a plot twist straight out of a thriller, right? Unfortunately, for three individuals traveling home from a wedding in India, this tragic scenario became a stark reality. Their car, misled by outdated satellite navigation, plummeted 30 to 50 feet into the Ramganga River, resulting in a devastating loss of life. As reports unfold, the arrest of four engineers hints at a deeper issue of negligence in infrastructure safety. With emotions running high, relatives demand accountability—after all, wouldn’t you want to know why a bridge remains incomplete and poorly marked? This incident raises critical questions about our trust in technology and the responsibilities of those who maintain our public infrastructure. Want to dive deeper into this heart-wrenching story? LEARN MORE.
Three people have been killed after their car’s sat nav sent them along an unfinished bridge.
The deaths came in India after the trio’s car flew off an unfinished bridge before falling between 30 and 50 feet, with the figure varying across multiple local news reports.
According to reports by Times of India, four engineers have been arrested in connection with the deaths.
The men, two of whom were named as Vivek Kumar and Amit Kumar, were returning home from a wedding.
At 2.30pm this past Saturday, November 23, their car drove off a bridge between Faridpur and Dataganj over the Ramganga River.
Their bodies were not discovered until 9.30am the next day, trapped inside the car.
Per the Daily Mail, investigators have found that the car had been following outdated sat nav data.
The sat nav had no indication that the bridge had been closed following a collapse in 2022.
Per local media, the trio all worked as security guards, and were travelling back from Gurgurgam which is southwest of New Delhi.
One relative told the Hindustaan Times: “The officials must be held accountable for this negligence. Why was the bridge left incomplete and why were there no safety measures in place?”
The relative also called for a formal investigation.
Local police released a statement on Sunday saying: “At 9:30 am today, a damaged car was found on the river Ramganga.
“Police were informed and arrived at the spot. When the police arrived, they saw a Wagon R, which was possibly hired as a taxi, on the river. The car went to the incomplete bridge and fell into a river from there.
“The bodies were found and taken for post-mortem. The identities of two people, Amit and Vivek, were confirmed. More details on the identity of the third one are being worked on.”
(Surya Reddy via X)
It was also confirmed that local villagers found the car in a ditch, before calling emergency services to the scene.
The bodies were retrieved using a boat.
Local officials have been ordered following the incident to ‘inspect all roads and bridges in the area’ to confirm they have the correct signs.
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.”
