Bridge collapse has become a common headline in Bihar. In the past 15 days, the state has seen nine bridges tumble down, including three that collapsed in a single day, putting the government on high alert. On Thursday, another structure caved in Saran, taking the number to 10.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday held a review meeting and ordered officials to survey all the old bridges in Bihar and identify the ones that require immediate repair.
The bridges that collapsed in Bihar in a fortnight are ones that were in Kishanganj, Araria, Madhubani, East Champaran and Siwan. Meanwhile three small bridges in Siwan and one in Saran came apart on July 3.
In the meeting, authorities from the Road Construction Department (RCD) and Rural Works Department (RWD) were asked to ensure proper maintenance of old structures.
The state of infrastructure in Bihar has drawn the ire of the Opposition with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav accusing the ruling government in the state of negligence.
In a post on X, Yadav said, “Another bridge collapsed in Bihar this morning on July 4. Five bridges alone collapsed on July 4, Since June 18, 12 bridges have collapsed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are completely silent and speechless about these achievements. They are thinking about how to convert this auspicious corruption into the ‘jungle raj’?”
However, the ruling party, Janata Dal (United) has blamed rains and excessive water flow from rivers in Nepal.
“Certain portions of bridges/causeways that caved in in Siwan and Saran on Wednesday are very old. These structures don’t seem to have been constructed following required parameters. It also appears that the foundation was not deep enough, a reason why these structures got damaged during floods,” Chaitanya Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary of RWD.
Link to article –
10 Bihar bridges collapse in 15 days: CM Nitish Kumar holds review meet over infra fiasco
