Patna, Bihar, witnessed the collapse of at least three more bridges or carriageways on Wednesday, marking the ninth such incident in the rain-affected state in the last 15 days.
No casualties were reported after the three structures, built between 30 and 80 years ago by local authorities, collapsed during the day in Saran and Siwan districts, officials said.
However, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that four bridges collapsed in a single day and that the chief minister and his deputies are silent.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the Road Construction Department (RCD) and Rural Works Department (RWD) to immediately conduct a survey of all old bridges in the state and identify those that require immediate repair.
"Certain portions of bridges/roadways that collapsed in Siwan and Saran on Wednesday are very old," Chaitanya Prasad, additional chief secretary of the WRD, said in a statement.
“These structures do not appear to have been built following the required parameters. It also appears that the foundations were not deep enough, which is why these structures were damaged during the floods,” he said.
Firstly, a part of a small bridge over the Gandaki River in Deoria block of Siwan district collapsed around 5am.
"A portion of a bridge in Deoria block collapsed this morning," Deputy Development Commissioner Mukesh Kumar said, adding that the cause is under investigation.
Later, another small bridge reportedly met the same fate in Teghra block of the district. Despite repeated attempts, the Siwan district magistrate was not available for comment.
Two other small bridges also collapsed in Saran, according to district magistrate Aman Samir.
“A small bridge that collapsed in the Janta Bazar area was 100 years old. Another one that collapsed is located in the Lahladpur area and was built 25 years ago. A high-level investigation has been ordered,” Samir said.
Local residents suggested that heavy rain in recent days may have contributed to the collapse of these small bridges.
In the last 15 days, more than 10 incidents of this type of bridge collapse have been reported in different parts of the state.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed RWD and RCD officials to immediately conduct a survey of all old bridges.
Chairing a meeting to review the departments' maintenance policies, the CM said, “The RCD has already prepared its bridge maintenance policy and the RWD should immediately chalk out its plan at the earliest.
In the last 15 days, a total of nine bridges have collapsed in various districts like Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, Kumar asked department heads to take strict action against the culprits.
Senior RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav wrote on X: “Four bridges collapsed in Bihar in a single day! The CM and both CMs of the state are silent on the matter.
The NDA government should tell us who is to blame, the former deputy chief minister said.
"Apparently, since the BJP is in government, corruption and crime are no longer problems," he said.
No casualties were reported after the three structures, built between 30 and 80 years ago by local authorities, collapsed during the day in Saran and Siwan districts, officials said.
However, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that four bridges collapsed in a single day and that the chief minister and his deputies are silent.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the Road Construction Department (RCD) and Rural Works Department (RWD) to immediately conduct a survey of all old bridges in the state and identify those that require immediate repair.
"Certain portions of bridges/roadways that collapsed in Siwan and Saran on Wednesday are very old," Chaitanya Prasad, additional chief secretary of the WRD, said in a statement.
“These structures do not appear to have been built following the required parameters. It also appears that the foundations were not deep enough, which is why these structures were damaged during the floods,” he said.
Firstly, a part of a small bridge over the Gandaki River in Deoria block of Siwan district collapsed around 5am.
"A portion of a bridge in Deoria block collapsed this morning," Deputy Development Commissioner Mukesh Kumar said, adding that the cause is under investigation.
Later, another small bridge reportedly met the same fate in Teghra block of the district. Despite repeated attempts, the Siwan district magistrate was not available for comment.
Two other small bridges also collapsed in Saran, according to district magistrate Aman Samir.
“A small bridge that collapsed in the Janta Bazar area was 100 years old. Another one that collapsed is located in the Lahladpur area and was built 25 years ago. A high-level investigation has been ordered,” Samir said.
Local residents suggested that heavy rain in recent days may have contributed to the collapse of these small bridges.
In the last 15 days, more than 10 incidents of this type of bridge collapse have been reported in different parts of the state.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed RWD and RCD officials to immediately conduct a survey of all old bridges.
Chairing a meeting to review the departments' maintenance policies, the CM said, “The RCD has already prepared its bridge maintenance policy and the RWD should immediately chalk out its plan at the earliest.
In the last 15 days, a total of nine bridges have collapsed in various districts like Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, Kumar asked department heads to take strict action against the culprits.
Senior RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav wrote on X: “Four bridges collapsed in Bihar in a single day! The CM and both CMs of the state are silent on the matter.
The NDA government should tell us who is to blame, the former deputy chief minister said.
"Apparently, since the BJP is in government, corruption and crime are no longer problems," he said.
