Bihar: Another Bridge Collapses In Kishanganj, Fourth Incident This Month

No injuries have been reported so far. Authorities have barricaded both ends of the bridge to prevent any movement while repairs are underway.

A bridge collapsed in Bihar's Kishanganj district on Thursday, marking the fourth such incident in the state in just over a week, news agency PTI reported citing officials. The 70-metre-wide bridge in Bahadurganj block gave way due to the increased water levels from heavy rainfall in Nepal, said District Magistrate Tushar Singla. 

"The bridge, built in 2011 over Madiya, a tributary connecting the Kankai river to the Mahananda, collapsed because one of the pillars could not withstand the strong current," Singla told PTI.

As per the report, no injuries have been reported so far. Authorities have barricaded both ends of the bridge to prevent any movement while repairs are underway, it added. 

This incident follows three bridge collapses reported this month in Araria, Siwan, and Araria districts. In recent years, Bihar has experienced several similar incidents, raising concerns about the quality of public infrastructure, despite no casualties. 

On Sunday, an under-construction bridge in East Champaran district collapsed, making it the third such incident in less than a week. The 16-meter bridge, costing Rs 1.5 crore, was being built by the Rural Works Department (RWD) to connect Amwa village to other areas in Ghorasahan block. 

No injuries were reported, and a departmental inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause. Dipak Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of RWD, assured strict action for those found responsible.

Another incident occurred on Saturday when a bridge collapsed in Siwan's Darounda area. The 100-metre bridge, connecting Daraunda and Maharajganj blocks, collapsed from one end. Built about 30 years ago, the bridge's brick wall and pillars weakened after recent canal digging. No casualties were reported. 

Earlier this month, a newly constructed 180-metre bridge in Skiti, Araria district collapsed just before its inauguration. The bridge, costing Rs 12 crore, had its approach roads still under construction. 

Bihar has seen numerous bridge collapses, both large and small. In March, a bridge collapse in Supaul resulted in one death and eight injuries. Last June, a 200-metre stretch of the Aguani-Sultanganj bridge over the Ganga caved in. In April 2022, strong winds caused the superstructure of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur to collapse. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about the state's infrastructure quality, with six such incidents reported in the past two years.