An under-construction bridge in Uttar Pradesh collapsed during a severe storm, killing between five [1] and six [3] construction workers.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure projects to extreme weather events and raises questions about safety protocols for workers during storms.
The collapse occurred at the Kandaur-Morakandar bridge [4] in the Hamirpur district, specifically near the Kurara Police Station area [1]. Officials said slabs, support piers, and shuttering structures crashed down around 2 a.m. [2] after strong winds battered the region.
Reports on the casualty count vary. Some sources said five people died [1], while other reports indicate at least six fatalities [3]. Several other workers were feared trapped under the debris following the structural failure [2].
The collapse is attributed to a severe storm with strong winds that caused the bridge to fail [1]. One resident said, "The storm was so intense that segments of the bridge collapsed" [1].
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the tragedy [1]. Rescue operations were initiated to recover those trapped beneath the fallen concrete and steel structures.
“Slabs, support piers, and shuttering structures crashed down around 2 a.m. after strong winds battered the region.”
This disaster underscores the intersection of aging or developing infrastructure and the increasing frequency of severe weather patterns in India. The discrepancy in death tolls suggests an ongoing recovery effort, while the failure of support piers during a storm may prompt a review of construction standards for bridges in storm-prone regions of Uttar Pradesh.
