Under-construction Bridge Collapses In Bihar’s Motihari, Third Incident In A Week

An under-construction bridge in Bihar’s East Champaran district collapsed on Sunday, marking the third such incident in the state within a week. The bridge, which was being built by the Rural Works Department (RWD) at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, collapsed over a canal in the Ghorasahan block. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties.

Dipak Kumar Singh, the additional chief secretary of RWD, mentioned that the exact cause of the collapse was not yet known. He stated, “It is a serious matter, and a departmental inquiry has been ordered. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty.” Senior officers from the district administration had arrived at the site, awaiting a detailed report.

District magistrate Saurabh Jorwal noted that the investigation into the precise reason for the collapse was ongoing. He mentioned, “There are reports indicating that some locals initially objected to the construction of certain pillars of the bridge. Police are also looking into this matter.”

This incident follows two similar occurrences in the state. On Saturday, another small bridge collapsed in Siwan district, which connected the villages of Daraunda and Maharajganj blocks over a canal. Additionally, on Tuesday, a newly constructed bridge spanning about 180 meters collapsed in Araria district.

These successive mishaps involving bridges of varying sizes constructed over rivers and other water bodies in Bihar have raised concerns about the quality of public works in the state. While there have been no casualties reported in these incidents, they have sparked questions about construction standards and project oversight.