In another case of infrastructural failure in Bihar, a portion of a bridge over Gandaki river collapsed this morning in Siwan district, making it the seventh such incident in the eastern state within the past 15 days.
The small bridge located in the Deoria block of the district connects several villages to Mahrajganj.
While no casualties have been reported yet, it is crucial to note that this is also the second bridge collapse in 11 days.
How did the bridge collapse?
Deputy Development Commissioner Mukesh Kumar stated that the exact cause is currently under investigation. He added that senior officials from the block have already arrived at the site.
“A portion of a bridge in Deoria block collapsed this morning. The exact cause is not known so far. Senior officials of the block have reached the spot and I am also going there,” he added.
The bridge was built in 1982-83, It has been seeing some repair work for the last few days. The incident took place at around 5 am. Villagers suggested that heavy rainfall in the preceding days, coupled with a surge in the Gandaki River, may have weakened the bridge’s structure and contributed to its collapse.
These incidents, not just in Bihar but all over India, have raised some very pressing questions on the stability of India’s infrastructure. A section of a bridge collapsed in the Darounda area on June 22.
Similar incidents have been reported recently in districts such as Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj, prompting the Bihar government to establish a high-level committee to investigate these occurrences.
(With PTI inputs)