Patna. The series of bridge collapses in Bihar continues with another incident reported on Thursday. A 15-year-old bridge over the Gandaki River in the Baniyapur block has collapsed. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the collapse has disrupted a key connection between Saran and its neighboring district, Siwan. This marks the 10th bridge collapse in Bihar within the last 15 days. On Wednesday, the Chief Minister had reviewed maintenance policies, emphasizing that the Road Construction Department had already developed a bridge maintenance policy and that the Rural Works Department should expedite their plan.
District Magistrate En Route to Site
Saran District Magistrate Aman Sameer confirmed the collapse, noting that two bridges had fallen within the district in the last 24 hours. The bridge, built 15 years ago by local authorities, collapsed on Thursday morning. While there were no injuries, the small bridge connected several villages in Saran to Siwan. District officials are investigating the exact cause of the collapse, though recent silt removal activities near the bridge may have contributed.
Bridge Unable to Withstand Strong Water Flow
Locals reported that the bridge, constructed five years ago using private funds from a local leader, failed due to reduced soil around the bridge piers and strong water flow following river cleaning operations. On Wednesday, two bridges in Lahaladpur block, about ten kilometers away, also collapsed. This latest incident marks the third bridge collapse in Saran within 24 hours, significantly impacting transportation for residents of Satua and Sareya panchayats in Baniyapur.
Ten Bridges Collapse in 16 Days
Two small bridges in Saran’s Janta Bazar area and Lahaladpur area collapsed on Wednesday. The District Magistrate has ordered a high-level investigation to determine the causes. Continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days is believed to be a significant factor in the collapses. In the past 16 days, 10 bridges have collapsed in Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj districts. This incident follows the Chief Minister’s directive to the Road Construction and Rural Works Departments to survey all old bridges in the state and identify those needing repairs.
