Bihar faces a troubling trend of bridge collapses. On Sunday, another bridge under construction in the Ghodasahan block of East Champaran district in Motihari gave way, marking the third such incident in less than a week. Meanwhile, the local populace questions the quality of materials used in these constructions.
The collapsed bridge in Motihari's Ghodasahan block served as an access route to Chainpur station and was being constructed with a budget of 2 crores.
Dhirendra Construction was entrusted with the bridge construction
A 16-meter long bridge over a canal in Ghodasahan block, Motihari, aimed to connect Amwa village with other areas, and was a Rural Works Department project.
Citizens were dubious about the quality of materials used. They allege subpar standards compared to the required specifications for bridge construction.
Fortunately, the collapse resulted in no casualties. Locals had raised initial concerns over the construction of some pillars. Police are investigating the collapse.
Siwan also witnessed a collapse
A smaller bridge in Siwan district collapsed on Saturday. No injuries were reported in this incident involving an old bridge that was reportedly more than 30 years old.
The bridge in Araria collapsed ahead of its inauguration
On Tuesday, Araria district saw a new, long bridge fall before its opening. This bridge over the Bakra River in Sikti had cost 12 crores.
Contractor blacklisted after investigation
Following the bridge failure in Sikti of Araria, the contractor, Sirajur Rahman, has been blacklisted as per the directives by Ashok Choudhary, the minister overseeing the Rural Works Department.
Bihar's history reveals a concerning trend of collapsing bridges, with several instances over the past two years leading to injuries and fatalities. The focus is now on ensuring quality and accountability in infrastructure development.
