Bridge collapses have become routine news in Bihar, with multiple incidents reported over the past few years, and the numbers are increasing. In a recent tragic development, a portion of a bridge over the Bakra River in Araria district has collapsed. A video of the collapsed bridge has been circulating on social media, although, fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far, according to a police official.
Key Facts of the Current Bridge Collapse
Incident Details: Three pillars of the Padariya bridge were swept away by the river, causing the bridge to collapse.
Location: The bridge was being constructed over the Bakra River in Araria district, Bihar.
Cause of Collapse: The reason for the collapse is still under investigation by a technical team.
Damage: No casualties have been reported, as the bridge was not operational yet, and the approach roads were still under construction.
Bridge Connection: The bridge was intended to connect the Kursa Kanta and Sikty areas of Araria district.
Cost: The construction cost of the bridge was reportedly ₹12 crore (around $1.5 million).
Blame Game
Opposition Allegations: Opposition parties allege negligence by the construction company and demand an investigation.
State Government Response: The state government has not commented on the cause but has confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Similar Incidents: This collapse is reportedly the seventh bridge collapse in Bihar since 2023 and the second this year, raising serious concerns about construction quality and safety standards.
“A portion of a newly constructed bridge over the Bakra River has collapsed. Officials have reached the site to examine the matter,” said Amit Ranjan, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Araria, to news agency PTI.
Commenting on the collapse, Sikti MLA Vijay Kumar said, “The bridge has collapsed due to negligence by the construction company’s owner. We demand that the administration conduct a thorough investigation.”
This same bridge had previously collapsed due to heavy rainfall in 2020, resulting in 12 people, including four motorcyclists, falling into the Bakra River. That incident occurred near Udahat under the Jokihat police station area in the district.
A few months ago, another tragedy struck in Bihar’s Supaul district when a section of an under-construction bridge collapsed early Friday morning. This incident claimed the life of one laborer, with several others feared trapped beneath the debris. The bridge, spanning 10.2 kilometers over the Koshi River and intended to connect Bheja in Madhubani with Bakaur in Supaul district, was under the jurisdiction of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
These repeated incidents highlight a disturbing pattern of corruption and negligence in the construction process, leading to a massive wastage of taxpayers’ money. Each bridge collapse represents millions of rupees spent on infrastructure projects effectively going down the drain.
The recent collapse has sparked discussions about infrastructure development and safety measures in Bihar. There is an urgent need for accountability and rigorous investigations to ensure that public funds are used responsibly and that infrastructure projects are both safe and durable. It will be interesting to hear what the Chief Minister of Bihar has to say about this issue.