Bridge Collapse in Bihar: No Injuries Reported Amid Concerns Over Construction Quality

Bridge Collapse Incident in Gopalganj District

Patna, March 2: A bridge under construction over the Ghoghari River in Gangwa village, Gopalganj district, collapsed during the casting process, according to officials. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries reported.

The bridge, which is approximately 29 meters in length, is being built at a cost of around Rs 2.89 crore.

At the time of the incident, workers were engaged in casting activities. Thankfully, no one was hurt, preventing a potential disaster.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Sidhwalia police station confirmed the occurrence, noting that water had not been fully drained from the river before construction commenced, which contributed to the mishap.

“It’s fortunate that no injuries occurred during this incident,” he remarked.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise during the casting, followed by a sudden collapse of a section of the bridge slab.

The structure fell apart in moments, causing panic among those present.

Local villagers have raised concerns that inferior construction materials and inadequate reinforcement bars (rebar) were utilized, leading to the collapse during the casting phase.

Residents are questioning the accountability of the construction agency and relevant officials, demanding a thorough technical investigation into the incident.

They expressed that without stringent quality checks, such oversights could lead to serious accidents in the future.

Upon receiving the news, administrative and engineering teams quickly arrived at the site to evaluate the situation.

Construction activities have been suspended until further notice.

Officials have announced that a comprehensive technical inquiry will be initiated to ascertain the cause of the collapse, with appropriate actions to follow based on the findings.

This incident has ignited widespread discussions in the district, with residents voicing their concerns over the frequent occurrences of bridge and culvert collapses in Bihar.

Issues regarding construction quality, oversight mechanisms, and safety standards have resurfaced as critical topics.

The recent collapse underscores the pressing need for enhanced supervision, accountability, and compliance with engineering standards to avert similar incidents in the future.