An incident in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh shocked the local community as a 48-year-old contractor and local Samajwadi Party leader, Lal Bahadur Yadav, lost his life in a freak accident. The tragedy struck just 500 meters away from his home when a high-mast light pole, which was being installed by a crane, fell onto the moving car he was driving. The accident was recorded by CCTV cameras, capturing the horrifying moment and drawing attention to the potential dangers of such construction activities in populated areas.

At the time of the accident, the local market, Babuganj, was bustling with activity; shops were open, and people were busy shopping. Eyewitnesses reported that the pole, which was approximately 65 feet tall and weighed around 40 quintals, was being erected in front of a Bharat Petroleum petrol station when a sudden loud noise indicated that the crane’s strap had broken. The heavy pole came crashing down unexpectedly on Yadav’s car, resulting in catastrophic consequences that left the onlookers in shock and disbelief.

This incident raises significant concerns regarding construction safety and the regulatory frameworks in place to protect citizens from such accidents. As the community mourns the loss of a familiar face, questions are being asked about the maintenance and operational procedures of heavy machinery in public spaces. The footage from the incident is likely to be pivotal in determining responsibility and preventing future tragedies of this nature in the region.