Bihar government suspends 11 engineers after 12 bridges collapse within 15 days and promises ‘strictest action’ against those responsible

The Bihar government on Friday suspended 11 engineers in connection with a series of bridge collapses in the state. The decision was taken by the state government after an inquiry committee submitted its report to the water resources department.

“It was found that the engineers were negligent and the monitoring was ineffective… this is the main reason for the collapse of small bridges and causeways in the state,” WRD deputy chief secretary Chaitanya Prasad told news agency PTI.

The Government has directed Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd to immediately submit an estimate for the speedy construction of new bridges and sanction the said work.

In addition, new bridges will be built to replace damaged bridges at the contractor’s expense and risk.

An official statement issued by the Bihar government today said that the engineers involved had not taken necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the bridges and culverts and had also failed to provide adequate technical supervision. The government also pointed out the negligence of the executing contractor.

Here is the list of suspended engineers:

Senior Engineers
1. Mr. Amit Anand, Senior Engineer, Flood Control Department, Siwan
2. Mr. Kumar Brajesh, Senior Engineer, Water Drainage Department, Siwan

Assistant engineers
1. Mr. Rajkumar, Assistant Engineer, Flood Control Department, Siwan
2. Mr. Chandramohan Jha, Assistant Engineer, Flood Control Department, Siwan
3. Mr. Simran Anand, Assistant Engineer, Water Discharge Department, Siwan
4. Mr. Neha Rani, Assistant Engineer, Water Discharge Department, Siwan

Junior Engineers
1. Md. Majid, Junior Engineer, Water Discharge Department, Siwan
2. Mr. Ravi Kumar Rajneesh, Junior Engineer, Flood Control Department, Siwan
3. Mr. Rafiul Hoda Ansari, Junior Engineer, Flood Control Department, Siwan
4. Mr Ratnesh Gautam, Junior Engineer, Flood Control Department, Siwan
5. Mr. Prabhat Ranjan, Junior Engineer, Flood Control Department, Siwan

In the last two weeks, at least 12 bridges have collapsed in various districts of Bihar, including Siwan, Madhubani, Saran, East Champaran, Araria and Kishanganj.

Engineers suspended, FIR registered, action against contractors

On June 18, 2024, a culvert was damaged in Araria. An investigation brought to light the negligence in the construction work by Er. Anjani Kumar, the then Executive Engineer of the Rural Works Department, and the present Executive Engineer Er. Ashutosh Kumar Ranjan. Apart from them, the then Junior Engineer Virendra Prasad and the present Junior Engineer Manish Kumar have been suspended with immediate effect until further orders, the statement said.

“Action is being taken to blacklist the contractor. Recovery of payments made to the contractor will be done as per the provisions of the SBD and all pending payments for the work of the contractor have been stopped with immediate effect. Action is also being taken against the DPR consultant concerned. All payments for previous and new work have been stopped with immediate effect,” the Bihar government said in its statement.

The government also mentioned that after receiving the final investigation report and findings of the investigation team, action will be taken against the guilty contractor under the Bihar Contractor Rules.

“The guilty officials will face strictest action in connection with the functioning of PMSSY-III in Ghoda Sahan Block in East Champaran,” the statement said.

The bridge under construction in Ghoda Sahan area which was damaged on June 23 was reportedly damaged by anti-social elements.

The government said that an FIR had been filed at the Ghoda Sahan police station in this regard and that the local police were taking action.

On June 26, 2024, a girder on a bridge under construction in Madhubani collapsed. The government has demanded an explanation from the contractor responsible.

“The contractor will erect a new beam to replace the damaged one at its own risk and expense,” the statement said.

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