Six killed as under-construction bridge collapses in UP’s Hamirpur during storm

At least six workers were killed after an under-construction bridge collapsed during a late-night storm in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, triggering a massive rescue operation and raising serious questions over construction safety standards at the site.

The bridge, being built over the Betwa River between Morakandar and Kandaur villages, collapsed around 2 am amid heavy rain and strong winds, officials said. Several labourers were reportedly sleeping on a section of the structure when it suddenly gave way, trapping them under concrete slabs and debris.

Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police and district administration rushed to the spot through the night as fears remained that more workers could still be trapped beneath the rubble.

Hamirpur additional superintendent of police Arvind Kumar Verma said authorities responded immediately after receiving information about the collapse.

“We reached the spot immediately after receiving the information around 2 am last night that a slab had collapsed and some people were trapped beneath it,” Verma told reporters.

“SDRF is here, and rescue operations are underway. We have retrieved and identified five bodies,” he added. Officials later confirmed the death toll had risen to at least six.

The tragedy has intensified scrutiny over safety arrangements at the construction site, particularly as the collapse occurred during severe weather conditions. Authorities are expected to investigate whether proper structural safeguards and emergency protocols were in place.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed officials to intensify rescue and relief efforts.

“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,” the chief minister said in a post on X.

According to the chief minister’s office (CMO), Adityanath instructed senior officials to reach the site immediately, accelerate rescue operations and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.

He also directed authorities to provide compensation to the families of those killed in the collapse.

“I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed souls attain a place at His divine feet and the injured recover swiftly,” the chief minister added.

The incident is the latest in a series of infrastructure accidents to hit construction projects across the country, renewing concerns about worker safety and oversight at large-scale public works sites.

With IANS inputs