PATNA: An under-construction bridge collapsed in Bihar’s East Champaran district on Sunday, marking the third such incident in the state within a week. The bridge, located in Motihari’s Ghorasahan block, was intended to connect Amwa village to other areas of the block. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
Dipak Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Bihar’s Rural Works Department (RWD), confirmed the collapse and announced a departmental inquiry. “The exact cause is not yet known. It is a serious matter, and a departmental inquiry has been ordered. We will take strict action against those found guilty,” Singh stated.
District Magistrate (DM) Saurabh Jorwal echoed Singh’s sentiments, adding that local objections to the construction of some pillars are also under investigation. “We have reports that a section of locals initially objected to the construction of some pillars of the bridge. Police are also looking into this matter,” Jorwal said.
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The 16-meter-long bridge, with a budget of Rs 1.5 crore, was being built by the RWD over a canal. Senior district administration officials have been dispatched to the site, and a detailed report is awaited.
This incident follows the collapse of a small bridge in Siwan district on Saturday, which connected Daraunda and Maharajganj blocks. Earlier, on Tuesday, a newly constructed 180-meter-long bridge collapsed in Araria district. These repeated failures have intensified scrutiny over the quality of public works in Bihar.
In recent months, Bihar has witnessed several bridge mishaps, both large and small, over rivers and other water bodies. While these incidents have not resulted in casualties, they have raised serious concerns about the integrity and quality of construction projects in the state.