An under-construction small bridge collapsed in Bihar's East Champaran district on Sunday. This was third such incident in state in less than a week. No casualty was reported in the incident that happened in Ghorasahan block in Motihari, officials said, as reported by news agency PTI.
The officials further stated that the 16-metre-long bridge was being built over a canal by the state's Rural Works Department (RWD) to connect Amwa village to other areas of the block. It was being built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore.
"The exact cause of the incident is not yet known. It is a serious matter and a departmental inquiry has been ordered. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty," Additional Chief Secretary of RWD Dipak Kumar Singh told PTI. "Senior officers of the district administration have reached the spot. A detailed report is awaited," he said.
Speaking on the multiple incidents of bridge collapse in Bihar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav lashed out at the state government and the Central Government. “Several murders are being reported in Bihar, bridges are being collapsed, railway accidents are happening, papers are getting leaked. This is a ‘double engine’ government,” he said.
District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal said the exact cause of the incident was being ascertained. "There are reports that a section of locals initially objected to the construction of certain pillars of the bridge. Police are also looking into this matter," he told PTI.
The state has been witness to several mishaps involving bridges, large and small, constructed over rivers and other water bodies. On Saturday, a small bridge collapsed in Siwan district. It was built over a canal, connecting the villages of Daraunda and Maharajganj blocks. Prior to that, on Tuesday, a newly constructed bridge, about 180 metres long, had collapsed in the Araria district.