Chhapra, Bihar:In a concerning turn of events, the construction of the country’s longest double-decker bridge in Chhapra, Bihar, has faced a major setback due to significant lapses in safety protocols. During the beam installation, a wooden barrier snapped, causing a substantial amount of construction material, including cement, gravel, and sand, to spill onto the road around 8:30 AM on Wednesday. Fortunately, no pedestrians or bystanders were harmed during the incident.
Local residents expressed their dissatisfaction, pointing fingers at the construction company for neglecting safety standards, making such incidents a potential risk. They accused the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation and related companies of failing to take necessary steps to prevent accidents. Allegations included the lack of security arrangements for the construction workers involved in the completion of the double-decker bridge.
Sushil Kumar, the Executive Engineer of Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation, stated that the beam installation occurred late Tuesday night near the police line. A support was placed underneath during the beam installation, but due to the breaking of the support, a substantial amount of material fell from the beam.
After the incident, the spilled materials were promptly removed, and efforts are underway to clear the beam of any remaining materials. The construction company assured that necessary precautions would be taken during the subsequent beam installation.
This incident follows a similar occurrence on December 2, where a heavy iron angle from the under-construction bridge near Gandhi Chowk fell onto a container headed from Chhapra to Muzaffarpur. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported, but local residents emphasized the need for better safety measures.
The construction of the double-decker bridge, which began in 2017, aimed to create the country’s largest structure of its kind. Initially targeted for completion by 2022, delays in land acquisition and compensation processes in the central part of the city have hindered progress. While the construction in the eastern and western regions has been completed, challenges persist in the central area.
As Bihar strives to build the nation’s longest double-decker flyover, incidents like these highlight the importance of prioritizing safety measures and ensuring thorough oversight during the construction process. The local community remains vigilant, calling for stricter adherence to safety standards to prevent any future mishaps.
