3 dead, child missing after Google Maps guides van onto closed bridge in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan

The incident occurred on Tuesday when a family was returning from a religious trip to Bhilwara and attempted to cross a closed culvert over the river.

In a tragic incident in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district that took place on Tuesday, three members of a family were killed and a child went missing after their van was swept away by the strong currents of the Banas river when the driver, relying on Google Maps, drove onto a closed bridge, police said on Wednesday.

The family was returning from a religious trip to Bhilwara. The driver, guided by Google Maps, attempted to cross the Somi-Upreda bridge, which had been shut for months, Superintendent of Police (SP) Manish Tripathi said.

“As the van entered the bridge, it became stuck and was quickly pulled into the river’s strong currents,” the officer said to news agency PTI.

According to police, four people died while five others managed to survive by climbing onto the roof of the vehicle. All river crossing points had been shut due to a surge in the Banas, but the family still made its way to the closed bridge.

“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,” SP Tripathi said as quoted by PTI.

The officer added that the stranded family tried to signal the rescue teams with mobile torches, but before help arrived, two women and two children were swept away. The bodies of two women and one child have been recovered, while the search is on for another child.

The deceased were identified as Chanda (21), her daughter Rutvi (6), and Mamta (25) and her daughter Khushi (4), police said.

In a separate incident in Jalore district, six young men were swept away by the Sukdi river on Tuesday evening. Police said three bodies have been recovered, while search operations for the remaining three are continuing. Their jeep, clothes and other belongings were later found on the riverbank by locals.

*With Agency Inputs