Four young men sustained serious injuries after their SUV plunged nearly 30 feet from an under-construction bridge on the Bharatmala National Highway near Bilaspur on Monday night, triggering fresh concerns over safety arrangements at ongoing infrastructure projects.

The accident took place near Darighat-Dhenka Karra under the Torwa police station limits, where a bridge over the Arpa River is currently under construction. Police said the vehicle, a Tata Nexon, was travelling from Korba towards Bilaspur when it reportedly entered the incomplete stretch of the highway and fell off the unfinished bridge.

Driver Failed to Notice Incomplete Stretch

According to the preliminary investigation, the SUV was travelling at a high speed when the driver failed to realise that the bridge construction was incomplete and the road ahead had not yet been connected.

The vehicle reportedly continued onto the unfinished section before becoming airborne and crashing nearly 30 feet below. The impact left the SUV extensively damaged and all four occupants seriously injured.

Villagers Led Rescue Effort

Local residents rushed to the spot after hearing the loud crash and immediately alerted the police.

Teams from Torwa Police, the Dial-112 emergency service and ambulance personnel reached the scene and, with the help of villagers, rescued the trapped occupants from the mangled vehicle.

All four injured youths were shifted to a nearby hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Hospital authorities said their condition is serious, though further medical updates are awaited.

Victims Were Travelling to Raipur

Police said the injured are residents of Raigarh district. They had reportedly travelled through Korba and were on their way to Raipur when the accident occurred.

Authorities have informed their family members about the incident.

Questions Raised Over Highway Safety

The accident has once again drawn attention to safety arrangements at construction sites under the Bharatmala highway project.

Investigators are examining whether adequate barricades, reflective warning signs, diversion markers and caution boards had been installed at the unfinished bridge to alert motorists, particularly during night-time travel.

Officials are also assessing whether visibility conditions or the absence of sufficient warning systems contributed to the accident.

Police Begin Investigation

Torwa Police have registered the case and initiated an investigation into all aspects of the incident.

Investigators will examine the vehicle's speed, the condition of the construction site, road safety compliance by the executing agency and any possible negligence that may have contributed to the crash.

The findings are expected to determine whether further action is required against those responsible for maintaining safety at the construction zone.