HAMIRPUR (Uttar Pradesh): At least five workers lost their lives and several others were feared trapped after a slab, bridge pier, and shuttering of an under-construction bridge collapsed during a severe storm in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, officials said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He also ordered immediate medical treatment for the injured and asked officials to remain in direct contact with the victims’ families to ensure all possible assistance.
According to the UP CMO, taking immediate cognisance of the incident in the Kurara area, the Chief Minister expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. He directed senior officials to reach the site without delay and instructed the administration to intensify relief and rescue operations in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other agencies.
#WATCH | Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh: Under-construction bridge collapses due to severe storm. Five workers killed, several others feared trapped. pic.twitter.com/Q9RgKxg6bj
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2026
Authorities confirmed that SDRF teams, along with police and administrative officials, including SDM and Circle Officer, are present at the site, and rescue and clearance operations are ongoing. Superintendent of Police Mrigank Shekhar Pathak said the administration received information about the collapse late Thursday night, and the bodies of two people have been retrieved so far.
“We received information last night that a bridge slab had collapsed and some individuals were feared trapped under the debris. The police and local administration, along with the SDRF, reached the spot immediately. Three people were successfully rescued. The slab fell on approximately six people, and the bodies of two have been retrieved so far. While an investigation is underway, preliminary findings suggest that heavy rainfall and a storm caused the collapse,” he told the media.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Hamirpur, Arvind Kumar Verma, said rescue teams rushed to the site immediately after receiving information about the incident around 2 am. “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. SDRF is here, and rescue operations are underway. We have retrieved and identified five deceased,” the ASP told the reporters.
The incident took place at the under-construction Kandaur-Morakandar bridge in the Kurara Police Station area, where construction work was ongoing through the night shift. Locals said a powerful storm struck the region around midnight, leading to the collapse of bridge segments and supporting structures.
“Around midnight last night, a very strong storm hit. We all woke up. A bridge was being built about 400 meters from my village. Work was going on through the night. Due to the storm, the segments broke and fell. Consequently, the support pillars also broke, and all the segments collapsed. Two of our guards, who were protecting the bridge, were crushed and died. There is an estimate of four labourers involved–two have been accounted for, and two are believed to be trapped. It appears this accident was caused by the storm,” a local resident said.
Sarvesh Tiwari, another witness, said work was underway on pillars and slabs when the storm hit the site. “Work on the pillars and slabs was in progress. Last night, a storm came, and this incident occurred. A slab broke. Workers were on-site as the night shift was active. Due to the slab breaking, five to six people have died. A support structure has also fallen,” he said.
#WATCH | Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh: On the under-construction bridge collapse due to a severe storm, the daughter of the deceased guard, Shivani Pal, says, “My father came here for his night duty. We tried calling him as soon as the storm began, but he didn’t pick up the phone. We… pic.twitter.com/4uUpva6j8U
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2026
Among those affected was Rajesh Pal, a labourer on night duty at the construction site. His daughter, Shivani Pal, said, “My father had come here for work. He was on duty here at night. I called him when the storm hit, but he didn’t pick up. Then I called others who were with him. One uncle told me that stone slabs and shuttering from above had fallen. We informed everyone and came here. Now that we’ve come here, no one has shown us anything.”
Authorities said SDRF personnel, police teams and district officials remain at the site, with search and clearance operations continuing amid fears that more workers may still be trapped under the debris. An investigation has been launched into the collapse. (ANI)
