A shocking incident occurred in Bihar’s Bhagalpur as an under-construction four-lane bridge over the Ganga collapsed, resembling a house of cards. The incident, captured in a video, marks the second collapse of the bridge within a year. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far. The bridge, which was inaugurated in 2014 by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, connects the districts of Sultanganj and Khagaria.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered an inquiry into the incident and emphasized that strict action should be taken against the officials responsible for the bridge’s collapse.
Bhagalpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed the incident, stating, “Yes, I have received the information that 4-5 pillars of the Aguwani-Sultanganj under-construction bridge collapsed. The administration is in touch with officials of the concerned department.”
The collapse of the bridge has brought attention to the alleged corruption within the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, according to state BJP president Samrat Choudhary.
This is not the first bridge collapse in the region. In December of the previous year, another bridge in the Begusarai district broke into two and fell into the Burhi Gandak River. Fortunately, there were no injuries as the bridge had not been officially opened to the public due to the lack of an access road. An official at the time of the incident stated, “It was to be inaugurated soon, but it collapsed before that.”
These incidents raise concerns about the quality of infrastructure projects in Bihar and the accountability of the officials involved. The repeated collapses of under-construction bridges not only pose a risk to public safety but also indicate potential flaws in the construction and supervision processes.
The Chief Minister’s decision to initiate an inquiry into the recent bridge collapse demonstrates a commitment to addressing the issue and holding responsible parties accountable. It is essential that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and impartially to determine the cause of the collapse and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Efforts must be made to improve the quality of infrastructure projects and ensure that necessary safety measures are in place during construction. Additionally, stringent measures should be taken to combat corruption and ensure transparency in the execution of such projects. The safety and well-being of the public should always remain a top priority, and steps should be taken to restore public confidence in the state’s infrastructure development efforts.