Araria: A bridge under construction over the Bakra River in Bihar’s Araria district has collapsed. The bridge, which cost 12 crore rupees, fell into the river on Tuesday. Investigations into the collapse are underway, with many allegations being raised about the quality of the construction.
Details of the Collapse
The Padariya bridge, connecting Kursakanta and Sikhati blocks, collapsed before its inauguration. The construction, which began in June 2021, was divided into three phases, costing a total of 28 crore rupees over 12 years. The latest collapse involved three spans sinking into the river, highlighting serious negligence in the construction process.
Investigations Ordered
A three-member team has been dispatched to investigate the bridge’s foundation depth, the quality of materials used, and other construction parameters. The Rural Works Department of the Bihar government oversaw the construction, but the lack of an approach road delayed its inauguration for two years. Various stakeholders have different opinions on the reasons behind the collapse.
Suspensions and FIRs
Following the collapse, executive, assistant, and junior engineers have been suspended, and a case has been registered against the contractor. The investigation team has been given seven days to submit their report to the headquarters. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness and integrity of the construction oversight.
Night-Time Construction and Negligence
Pradeep Kumar Singh, an MP from Araria, has called for an investigation into all major bridges in the district. Vijay Kumar Mandal, former state minister and current MLA of Sikhati, mentioned that repeated complaints were made about irregularities in the construction process, especially the night-time piling work. Despite these complaints, no satisfactory response was received from the officials. He asserted that if the piles were driven properly into the riverbed, the bridge would not have collapsed.
Accusations of Corruption
Avinash Anand, Vice President of the Extremely Backward Class Cell, attributed the collapse to corruption, pointing fingers at the involved officials, contractors, and local representatives. He argued that the massive irregularities led to the bridge’s failure even before it could be inaugurated.
Ward Member’s Allegations
Shankar Prasad Mandal, a ward member of Kauakoh Panchayat, noted that the bridge construction started well in 2021 but faced issues in the second year when the river’s flow was altered due to the deposited soil. Despite villagers’ warnings, the contractor and junior engineers ignored them and continued their work, often at night. Mandal highlighted several unmet promises, including the installation of boulder pitching on both sides of the river and the construction of an approach path, which were neglected, leaving the villagers vulnerable to flooding.
