Patna. The issue of recurring bridge collapses in Bihar has reached the Supreme Court. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed, with petitioner and advocate Brajesh Singh requesting the Supreme Court to direct the Bihar government to conduct an audit of the bridges. Singh emphasized the urgent need for the top court to address the ongoing issue of bridge collapses in the state. He called for a high-level structural audit of all existing and under-construction bridges in Bihar.
Nine Bridges Collapse in Bihar Within 15 Days
In the past two years, Bihar has witnessed the collapse of three major under-construction bridges and several other large, medium, and small bridges. Some of these incidents have resulted in fatalities and injuries. Just on Wednesday, two bridges in Saran district collapsed, both over the Gandaki River. This marks the ninth bridge collapse in the last 15 days, severely disrupting transportation and essential services like schools and hospitals for several villages. Singh urged the court to instruct the Bihar government to demolish or repair old and weak bridges to prevent further incidents.
Potential for More Collapses Due to Corruption
Singh expressed concern that further bridge collapses could occur due to government negligence and corruption among contractors and related agencies. He highlighted the critical situation in flood-prone Bihar, where frequent bridge collapses pose a significant threat to public safety. The PIL underscores incidents in Araria, Siwan, Madhubani, and Kishanganj districts, where most collapses involved bridges over rivers. Singh called for immediate intervention by the Supreme Court to protect lives.
