LUCKNOW: Six workers were killed and several labourers got trapped after a cement slab, along with a bridge pier and shuttering of an under-construction bridge over the Betwa river, collapsed reportedly due to rain and a thunderstorm in Hamirpur district at around 2 am on Friday.
According to police sources, 20-25 people, including workers and security guards, were present at the site at the time of the incident. A storm struck, causing the slab to collapse and bury workers who were sleeping underneath it.
The sources said the concrete slab fell, trapping the workers. Rescue teams worked through the night and continued search operations on Friday amid fears that more people could still be trapped. So far, three people have been pulled out alive.
The bridge, an 800-metre-long structure spanning the Betwa river, has been under construction since 2024 and is intended to connect Mora Kandar and Kandaur villages in the Kurara block of Hamirpur district. The project is considered a key link for improving connectivity in the region.
According to Hamirpur Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar Verma, a preliminary inquiry revealed that the victims were working when one of the slabs collapsed on them.
He confirmed six casualties. The deceased were identified as Lokendra (22), Kuldeep Nishad (19), Sawant Yadav (28), Sabhajeet (30), Pushpendra Chauhan (34) and Rajesh Pal (42), police said.
According to Hamirpur SDM Abhishek Kumar, two of the deceased were local residents, while four were from neighbouring Banda district.
Taking cognisance of the tragedy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to speed up rescue efforts, ensure treatment for the injured and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 financial assistance for those injured in the incident.
Officials said that nearly 60 per cent of the bridge had been completed at the time of the incident. The supporting pillars had already been erected, and work was underway to install the concrete deck slabs. Five slabs had been placed before the tragedy occurred.
According to police sources, senior police officials, firefighters and district administration personnel rushed to the site after receiving information about the incident and launched rescue operations.
Specialised teams from the State Disaster Response Force later joined the rescue operations, bringing heavy equipment and rescue personnel to help search through the debris of the collapsed structure.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said instructions had been issued to the district administration to swiftly carry out relief and rescue operations in coordination with SDRF.
He wrote: “The loss of lives in a tragic accident on the Betwa River in Hamirpur district is extremely heartbreaking and heart-rending. My condolences are with the bereaved families… I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed souls attain a place at His divine feet and the injured recover swiftly.”
