Google Maps Responds to Bridge Collapse Accident, ‘Our Deepest Sympathies…’

A tragic accident claimed the lives of three men when their car drove off an under-construction bridge in Uttar Pradesh, reportedly while following Google Maps directions. Authorities have registered an FIR against four engineers and an official from Google Maps, as confirmed by district officials.

According to a PTI report, the FIR names two assistant engineers and two junior engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), along with unidentified individuals. The local Google Maps representative is under investigation, though their name is not yet included in the FIR.

Budaun district magistrate Nidhi Srivastava stated, “Apart from corrective measures at the site, FIR under section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the BNS has been registered against 2 Assistant Engineers and 2 Junior Engineers of PWD and unknown persons.”

Details Of The Accident

The victims, brothers Nitin and Ajit, both 30, and Amit, 40, were traveling from Noida to Faridpur, Bareilly, to attend a wedding. According to police in Budaun, Google Maps led the driver to the unfinished bridge, which lacked barriers or warning signs despite being partially collapsed from earlier flood damage.

The car fell into the Ramganga River from the incomplete bridge in the Dataganj Police Station area early Sunday morning.

Following the incident, district magistrate Srivastava directed the PWD and Setu Nigam to conduct inspections of all roads and bridges in the region to prevent similar tragedies.

Also Read: Google Maps Error, Construction Lapses Lead to Fatal Crash in UP’s Bareilly

Google’s Response

A spokesperson for Google expressed condolences and confirmed their cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We’re working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue,” the spokesperson stated.

How Did The Bridge Collapse?

Faridpur Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam clarified that floods earlier in the year had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river. Unfortunately, this critical change was not updated in the navigation system, contributing to the accident.

This incident underscores the importance of timely updates in navigation systems and proper safety measures at construction sites.