Eighth Bridge Collapse In Bihar In 15 Days, Latest Incident Comes From Saran

The small bridge, situated in the Deoria block of Siwan, connected several villages with Mahrajganj. This is the second incident of bridge collapse in Siwan in the last 11 days.

A bridge collapses in Siwan district of Bihar. (Screengrab/X)

Bihar, which has been in the news for its collapsing bridges, reported two other incidents in a day on Wednesday where bridges collapsed in Siwan and Saran district amid heavy rainfall in the region. The latest incident marks the eighth such incident in Bihar within the past 15 days. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.

The collapse disrupted cmmunication between several villages and alo affected the local businesses. The access to hospitals and schools was also hindered due to the incident.

As per a report by India Today, both bridges constructed over the Gandaki River have collapsed, one of which fell apart today. Locals stated that the cleaning of the riverbank was underway, only after the completion of which water would be released into the river. 

The other bridge, which was reportedly over a century old, couldn't withstand the torrential rain and collapsed.

A two-member team led by an engineer from the Flood Department and Sub-Divisional Officer has been constituted to probe the matter. 

Aman Sameer, Saran's District Magistrate, said that the team will submit their inputs within 24 hours, based on which a detailed report will be sent to the state government.

Bridge Collapses In Bihar's Siwan District

The small bridge, situated in the Deoria block of Siwan, connected several villages with Mahrajganj. This is the second incident of bridge collapse in Siwan in the last 11 days. On June 22, a portion of a bridge collapsed in Darounda area. 

Deputy Development Commissioner Mukesh Kumar said the exact cause is under investigation. Senior officials from the block have already reached the site, he added.

सिवान जिले के महराजगंज प्रखण्ड क्षेत्र अंतर्गत तीन पुल जल समाधी ले लिया। और डबल इंजन की सरकार टैक्स के पैसे से चंदा का धंधा शुरू की हैं।

सूचना मिलते ही महराजगंज पहुंच तीन धवस्त पुल का निरिक्षण किया और आमजन से मुलाक़ात स्थिति से अवगत हुआ।@Siwan_Rjd @yadavtejashwi @RJDforIndia https://t.co/iEyo0xnoub pic.twitter.com/eOXbyMxpEx

— Prof. Rabindra Rai (@rabindrarjd) July 3, 2024

A portion of a bridge in Deoria block had collapsed this morning. The incident took place around 5 am. As per initial information, the bridge was constructed in 1982-83.   

According to a report in PTI, a repair work was going on the bridge for the last few days. Villagers suggested that heavy rainfall over the preceding days may have contributed to the collapse, with a surge in Gandaki river potentially weakening the bridge's structure.

Earlier on Sunday, a bridge in Thakurganj block collapsed due to rising water levels in the Bund River following heavy rains. The bridge, located in Khoshi Dangi village of Patharia panchayat, was constructed in 2007-2008 with funds from the MP budget of the then MP Md Tasleemuddin of Thakurganj.

On June 28, an under-construction bridge on Bhutahi river collpased in Madhubani. The Madhubani bridge, a project by the Rural Works Department of the Bihar government, has been built at a cost of Rs 3 crore since 2021.

Meanwhile, similar incidents were reported from Araria, Siwan, East Champaran, and Kishanganj districts. The series of incidents began on June 19 with the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Araria. Subsequent collapses occurred in Siwan on June 22, East Champaran on June 23, and Kishanganj on June 24.