10 bridges destroyed in 16 days, Bihar suspends 17 engineers | Patna News

PATNA: The Bihar government on Friday suspended 17 engineers after a series of bridge collapses across the state in the last two weeks. These incidents, which took place in Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj, have embarrassed the ruling NDA.

“We have suspended 17 engineers from the Flood and Drainage Departments and the Rural Works Department for gross negligence on their part,” the state government said in a statement.

On Thursday, a bridge over the Gandaki river collapsed in Saran. It was the tenth such incident in Bihar in 16 days. However, the government claims that only nine bridges have collapsed.

No fewer than 11 engineers were suspended for negligence in connection with bridge collapses in Saran and Siwan districts. “Investigations by task forces of the Water Resources Department revealed that the engineers had not taken precautionary measures and had not carried out technical inspection of the bridges. Gross negligence was also found on the part of the construction contractors,” the government said.

Other suspensions included four engineers of the rural works department for negligence following an investigation by a team led by a senior engineer. Two other engineers linked to a cave-in in Ghodasahan block in East Champaran district were also suspended.

While the government took action against erring officials, opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav termed the bridge collapse an “administrative failure”. “Two engines in Bihar are involved in a game where one engine is involved in corruption and the other in criminality,” Tejashwi said on X.

Meanwhile, state public health and engineering minister Niraj Kumar Singh said the government had cancelled tenders for a drinking water pipeline system worth Rs 360 million that had been floated during the previous Grand Alliance government.

“These tenders will be revised to incorporate new features aimed at improving efficiency and coverage,” the minister told media representatives.

“I would not say there were any irregularities. The department reviewed the existing tenders and decided to revise them to include new features,” Singh said.