Rajasthan: Four Dead After Google Maps Leads Driver Onto Closed Bridge
Jaipur, Rajasthan: In Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh, a tragic accident occurred after a van driver, allegedly following directions from Google Maps, drove onto a closed bridge. The vehicle was swept away by the strong currents of the Banas River, killing three people and leaving a child missing, the police informed on Wednesday.
The mishap occurred when a family was returning from a religious trip to Bhilwara on Tuesday and attempted to cross a closed bridge over the river. The Google Maps guided the van to Somi-Upreda Bridge, and driver followed it without knowing that it had been closed for several months. Due to the surge in the Banas river, all routes for crossing the river were closed. Police said that as the van entered the bridge, it became stuck and was quickly caught in the river’s powerful currents.
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The incident claimed four lives, but five people managed to survive by clinging to the roof of the vehicle. Due to the surge in the Banas river, all routes for crossing the river were closed. Chittorgarh Superintendent of Police Manish Tripathi stated that the driver went past one closed bridge before driving the family onto the Somi-Upreda bridge, which had been shut for several months.
“The people in the van broke the window and climbed on its roof. One of them called his relative, who then informed the police. Station-in-charge, Rashmi Devendra Singh, quickly arrived at the scene and arranged for a boat. It was difficult to reach the family in the dark, but the police and locals did a great job and managed to reach the car,” PTI reports, as Tripathi is saying.
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When the police reached the site, they were able to rescue five people, but two women and two children had already been swept away. The bodies of two women and one child have been recovered, and a search is still underway for the body of the other child. The deceased have been identified as Chanda (21), her daughter, Rutvi (6), and Mamta (25), along with her daughter, Khushi (4).
(With inputs from PTI)
