Fourth Bridge Collapses in Bihar in Just Over a Week, Raising Infrastructure Concerns

A series of bridge collapses in Bihar has caused widespread worry among residents and raised questions about the quality of public infrastructure in the state. On Thursday, a bridge in the Kishanganj district became the fourth to collapse in just over a week, according to officials.

(Photo credit: PTI) Fourth Bridge Collapses in Bihar in Just Over a Week, Raising Infrastructure Concerns

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The 70-meter-long and 12-meter-wide bridge, located in the Bahadurganj block, gave way due to heavy rainfall that led to a sudden rise in water levels. The strong current caused one of the bridge's pillars to fail, resulting in the collapse. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in this incident.

"The bridge was built in 2011 over Madiya, a small tributary that connects the Kankai river to the Mahananda. Heavy rainfall in the catchment area in Nepal has led to a sudden rise in the water level. One of the pillars of the bridge could not withstand the strong current," said District Magistrate Tushar Singla.

This latest collapse follows similar incidents in Araria, Siwan, and Motihari districts within the past ten days. The repeated bridge failures have sparked outrage and concern, particularly during the monsoon season when rivers and streams are prone to flooding.

While the Kishanganj bridge collapse is attributed to the strong river current, questions linger about the structural integrity of these bridges, especially considering some were built as recently as 2011. Reports suggest the collapsed Kishanganj bridge was constructed under the Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana scheme just over a decade ago.

These incidents highlight the urgent need for a thorough assessment of bridge infrastructure across Bihar. There is a growing demand for stricter quality control measures during construction and proper maintenance to prevent such disasters in the future.