In a disconcerting trend, Bihar has witnessed its fifth bridge collapse within just nine days, raising serious concerns over the state’s infrastructure development. The latest incident occurred in the Madhubani district, where a 75-meter-long bridge, under construction since 2021, dramatically collapsed.
This bridge, being constructed by the Rural Works Department of the Bihar government at a projected cost of ₹3 crore, met its demise as rising water levels led to the collapse of a 25-meter supporting pillar into the river below. Images from the site depict the fallen pillars shrouded in tarpaulin sheets, highlighting the scale of the disaster.
This unfortunate event is part of a series of recent infrastructural failures in Bihar. On June 23, an under-construction small bridge in East Champaran district collapsed. A bridge over the Gandak canal in Siwan met a similar fate just a day prior. The collapses began on June 19, when a segment of an under-construction bridge in Araria gave way. Additionally, a concrete bridge over the Bakra River, which was built at a significant financial outlay, also succumbed to structural failure within seconds.
The repeated collapses have cast a shadow over Bihar’s infrastructure projects, with questions being raised about the quality of construction materials, engineering practices, and oversight mechanisms. The state government faces mounting pressure to conduct thorough investigations and implement stringent quality control measures to prevent such incidents in the future. These structural failures not only entail a colossal financial loss but also jeopardise public safety and erode trust in the state’s developmental initiatives. It is imperative for the authorities to address these systemic issues promptly to avert further infrastructural debacles and restore confidence among the citizens.
The Madhubani collapse serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust and reliable infrastructure, which is essential for the state’s socio-economic progress.
