Google Maps Official, PWD Engineers Booked After Car Fell Off Under-construction Bridge In UP
Yesterday, very saddening news was shared online in which three men traveling in a Maruti Suzuki WagonR died after falling off an incomplete bridge at the Bareilly-Budaun border. It was found that these men had been relying on Google Maps for their route, which did not highlight that the bridge was dangerous. Now, a day later, it has been reported that four engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) and one official from Google Maps have been arrested for negligence and the deaths of the three men.
PWD engineers and Google official arrested
As per reports, an FIR has been registered at the Dataganj Police Station under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). So far, police authorities have arrested four engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD). These include two assistant engineers and two junior engineers.
In addition to these four people, the regional officer from Google Maps has also been summoned by the police authorities. Although, at the moment, the name of this official has not been added to the FIR. Presently, the police and other officials, including the Budaun District Magistrate and Faridpur Circle officers, are investigating the matter.
What happened?
For those who may not be aware, yesterday it was reported that three men, Nitin and Ajit, aged 30, and Amit, aged 40, were traveling from Noida to Faridpur in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, for a wedding. At around 10 a.m., the trio was driving through dense fog in a Maruti Suzuki WagonR CNG.
It was reported that they were following the route shown by Google Maps. Unfortunately, at the Bareilly-Budaun border, they drove onto a bridge that was marked on Google Maps in red with multiple dashed lines. However, these men must have interpreted it as “traffic congestion” instead of “road closure.”
Due to this, they did not understand that the bridge had not been completed in the middle. Consequently, their vehicle fell into the Ramganga River. A video showing the vehicle in the river after falling from the incomplete bridge was shared online. It showed that the entire vehicle was destroyed.
Why was the bridge incomplete?
As per the Faridpur Circle Officer, Ashutosh Shivam, this bridge was destroyed last year due to heavy floods. Following that, it was being reconstructed but was not completed. During the interview, Shivam highlighted that the lack of barricades and warnings at the start of the bridge was one of the critical reasons behind this accident.
Google Maps official statement
Following the incident, Google Maps has also issued a statement. It stated, “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We’re working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue.”
Public outrage
Netizens and local people have been blaming the authorities from PWD and Google Maps for their contributions to the negligence that caused this unfortunate incident. Many people have stated that there should have been an adequate number of physical warnings, barricades, and blockades to signal the incomplete status of this bridge.
Additionally, netizens have also highlighted that the Google Maps UI does not differentiate between road congestion and road closure. Due to this, many people keep driving, thinking the road congestion would eventually clear. However, in this particular incident, it resulted in the vehicle falling off the bridge, which should have been marked as incomplete.