The collapse of yet another bridge in Bhagalpur, Bihar, highlights the severe infrastructure crisis plaguing the state. Early on Friday, a bridge connecting Pirpainty Dominia Chowk and Babupur via Bakharpur Road collapsed, disrupting road traffic in the area. Local authorities quickly took action by restricting movement across bridges, particularly for two-wheelers and pedestrians, due to the rising floodwaters. District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary ordered barricades on both sides of the collapsed road to ensure public safety.
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चलो ग़नीमत है जिस दिन बना उस दिन नहीं गिरा ,
कम से कम भारी बारिश का बहाना तो मिल गया #Bihar #one more bridge damage pic.twitter.com/3EgArm8kYM— Rao Arun Yadav (@raoarun03) September 27, 2024
This incident is not an isolated event. In fact, over a dozen bridges and causeways across Bihar have failed in recent months, with incidents reported in districts like Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj. Just weeks earlier, a bailey bridge over the Barnar River in Jamui district tilted dangerously, although no injuries were reported. These recurring incidents raise serious concerns about the safety of Bihar’s infrastructure, particularly in flood-prone areas.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called for a comprehensive survey of all old bridges in the state to identify those in urgent need of repair. Despite this proactive measure, Bihar continues to grapple with infrastructure failures, exacerbated by the annual monsoon season and increasing flood threats.
The collapse also brought attention to ongoing construction failures in the state. On September 22, a span between two pillars of the under-construction Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur Bridge collapsed near the Nandani Lagunia Railway Station in Samastipur. Although no injuries were reported, the incident disrupted work on the project and raised questions about the safety standards and quality of construction in Bihar.
Also read: Samastipur Bridge Collapse: Bihar Deputy CM Vows Strict Action Against Construction Agency
These events have intensified the public outcry for accountability and action, particularly as Bihar’s infrastructure is essential for daily commuting, trade, and flood relief efforts. Local communities, often the hardest hit by such collapses, continue to express frustration at the lack of durable infrastructure, especially in regions prone to natural disasters like floods. The government’s response, so far, has included temporary measures such as barricading roads and restricting movement, but long-term solutions remain elusive.