The deaths came in India after the trio’s car flew off an unfinished bridge before falling between 30 and 50 feet, with the figure varying across multiple local news reports.
According to reports by Times of India, four engineers have been arrested in connection with the deaths.
The men, two of whom were named as Vivek Kumar and Amit Kumar, were returning home from a wedding.
At 2.30pm this past Saturday, November 23, their car drove off a bridge between Faridpur and Dataganj over the Ramganga River.
Their bodies were not discovered until 9.30am the next day, trapped inside the car.
Per the Daily Mail, investigators have found that the car had been following outdated sat nav data on Google Maps.
Google Maps horror : Wrong #GPS location took the lives of 3 people in #Bareilly, #UttarPradesh #GoogleMaps directed a car to a half-finished bridge. Due to dense #fog, the incomplete bridge was not visible and the car falls into the #RamgangaRiver, resulting in the death of…
The sat nav had no indication that the bridge had been closed following a collapse in 2022.
Per local media, the trio all worked as security guards, and were travelling back from Gurgurgam which is southwest of New Delhi.
One relative told the Hindustaan Times: “The officials must be held accountable for this negligence. Why was the bridge left incomplete and why were there no safety measures in place?”
The relative also called for a formal investigation.
Local police released a statement on Sunday saying: “At 9:30 am today, a damaged car was found on the river Ramganga.
“Police were informed and arrived at the spot. When the police arrived, they saw a Wagon R, which was possibly hired as a taxi, on the river. The car went to the incomplete bridge and fell into a river from there.
“The bodies were found and taken for post-mortem. The identities of two people, Amit and Vivek, were confirmed. More details on the identity of the third one are being worked on.”
(Surya Reddy via X)
It was also confirmed that local villagers found the car in a ditch, before calling emergency services to the scene.
The bodies were retrieved using a boat.
Local officials have been ordered following the incident to ‘inspect all roads and bridges in the area’ to confirm they have the correct signs.
Faridpur SDM Gulab Singh stated, “The bridge is being constructed by UP State Bridge Corporation Ltd, and the approach road in Budaun towards it was open.
“We have ordered an investigation, and action will be taken against the guilty officials.”
A Google spokesperson told LADbible: “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We’re working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue.”
