Who was Lal Bahadur Yadav? Samajwadi Party leader dies in UP after high mast pole crushes car

Lal Bahadur Yadav was a 48-year-old local leader of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh who died in a tragic accident in Pratapgarh on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the busy Babuganj market area when a 65-foot-high mast light pole being installed near a Bharat Petroleum fuel pump collapsed onto his Hyundai Creta. The structure, reportedly weighing around 40 quintals, fell after the crane strap snapped during installation. Yadav was travelling from Babuganj to Pratapgarh city for personal work and was just about 500 metres from his residence when the accident took place. The incident was captured on CCTV.

Political and professional background

Lal Bahadur Yadav was a local Samajwadi Party leader and a Public Works Department (PWD) contractor. He also held a country liquor licence. He had twice contested the Antu Nagar Panchayat elections and was known in the local political circuit.

He is survived by four daughters and a son. Yadav was the eldest among three brothers and a sister.

Investigation underway

After the pole fell on his vehicle, local residents rushed to the spot, broke open the car doors and attempted to rescue him. He was taken to a nearby community health centre where doctors declared him dead.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident, including examining whether there was negligence during the installation process. Eyewitnesses and family members questioned why the work was carried out during peak traffic hours instead of early morning or late night. The petrol pump staff reportedly left the scene after the accident. Authorities have sent the body for post-mortem and are reviewing safety protocols and accountability in the matter.