Bridge collapse in Bihar: 15 engineers suspended after 10 bridges collapsed within 15 days

Updated on July 5, 2024, 19:35 IST

After 10 bridges collapsed in Bihar within two weeks, 15 engineers were suspended by the state government on Friday. The decision was taken after an inquiry committee submitted its report to the state’s water resources department.

A bridge under construction collapses in Bihar (Twitter/File)

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Fifteen engineers were suspended by the Bihar government on Friday.
The decision was taken after an inquiry committee submitted its report to the Water Resources Department (WRD).
Remarkably, two engineers have already been suspended in connection with bridge collapses.

Patna: Fifteen engineers were appointed by the Government of Bihar after 10 bridges collapsed in the state within 15 days. The development came a day after a bridge collapsed in Saran. After the incident Bihar Prime Minister Nitish Kumar held a meeting.

The decision to suspend the engineers came after an inquiry committee submitted its report to the Water Resources Department (WRD). The inquiry found negligence and lack of supervision, PTI reported. Notably, a total of 17 engineers were suspended due to the bridge collapses in the last 15 days. Of these 17, 15 were suspended on Friday.

“It has been found that negligence of engineers and inadequate monitoring are the main causes behind the collapse of small bridges and causeways in the state,” WRD deputy chief secretary Chaitanya Prasad told reporters.

Among those suspended were three senior engineers. In the last two weeks, a total of ten bridges collapsed in the districts of Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj.

The first bridge collapsed in Araria. The construction of this bridge cost seven crore rupees. The second bridge collapsed in Motihari.

On Thursday, the bridge in Saran collapsed. It was built over 15 years ago across the Gandaki river and connected several villages in Saran with Siwan districts. No casualties were reported in the latest bridge collapse.

On Wednesday, two small bridges collapsed in Saran district, one in Janta Bazar and another in Lahladpur. This series of incidents has raised doubts about the structural integrity of older bridges in the state.

On Friday, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi blamed monsoon rains for the recent bridge collapses in Bihar. The Nitish Kumar-led coalition government in Bihar is facing severe criticism after around 10 bridge collapses were reported in the last 15 days.

Blaming the unprecedented monsoon for the recent bridge collapse in the state, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief said, “It is monsoon season. There has been unusually heavy rain and that is the reason for the bridge collapse.”

Asserting that the state government is taking the matter seriously, Manjhi said, “The Chief Minister of the state is very sensitive about the investigation. He held a meeting yesterday and gave strict instructions that strict action will be taken against any kind of negligence.”

After 10 bridges collapsed in Bihar within two weeks, 15 engineers were suspended by the state government on Friday. The decision was taken after an inquiry committee submitted its report to the state’s water resources department.

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