At least five people were killed and several others injured after a portion of an under-construction bridge over the Betwa River collapsed during a severe storm in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Friday.
According to reports, the slab and pier of the bridge, along with the scaffolding structure, collapsed amid strong winds during construction work. The incident took place at the under-construction Kandaur-Morakandar bridge under the jurisdiction of Kurara police station.
Officials said several workers were present beneath the structure when it collapsed. While five deaths have been confirmed so far, fears remain that more people may still be trapped under the debris.
Rescue operations underway
Following the incident, district administration officials rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local police and administrative officials, are engaged in clearing debris and searching for survivors.
Senior officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Circle Officer (CO), and police personnel from multiple stations, are present at the accident site.
CM Yogi takes cognisance
Reacting to the bridge collapse incident in Hamirpur, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took immediate cognisance of the accident and expressed deep grief over the loss of lives.
The Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and directed the administration to immediately dispatch senior officials to the accident site and speed up relief and rescue operations.
He also instructed officials to intensify rescue efforts in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
CM Yogi directed authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and ordered that appropriate compensation be provided to the families of the deceased.
The Chief Minister further instructed officials to remain in direct contact with the affected families and ensure that every possible assistance is extended to them.
(Report: Pankaj Dwivedi)
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