Three more bridge collapses have occurred in the Indian state of Bihar, raising the total to nine crumbling bridges disasters in the last 15 days, a worrying phenomenon. Two bridges collapsed in the Saran area and one in the Siwan district on Wednesday, marking the most recent instances.

The Gandaki "chhadi" (rivulet) in Maharajganj block was the location of both the bridges that collapsed in the Siwan district. While the other was erected in 1998 with financing from MP Local Area Development, the first was completed in 1982–1983. Connectivity between Kishunpur and Dandaspur was disrupted when a colonial-era bridge fell in the Saran district.

Luckily, no casualties were reported because there was no traffic on the bridges at the time of their collapse. Nonetheless, the events have sparked grave worries about the state's bridges' structural stability and upkeep.

Crumbling Bridges
Image Source: The Conversation

After a bridge collapse in the Araria district on June 18, there were more instances in the districts of East Champaran, Madhubani, Siwan, and Kishanganj. Six districts are now affected overall because of the most recent triple collapse.

The Bihar government has established a three-person committee led by the chief engineer to look into the causes of the bridge failures in response to the concerning situation. Within a week, the committee will deliver its report and suggestions for the next actions.

Typically, the government has suspended junior-level engineers or ordered an inquiry into bridge failures. Experts caution that this strategy is useless, nevertheless. One of the main causes of the bridge failures, according to the petitioner in the Supreme Court case, is the "gross negligence of the government and the corrupt nexus of the contractors and concerned agencies".

Jai Kishore Dutt, a retired chief engineer of the road construction department, proposes that a "third-party investigation and neutral assessment of the underlying causes" be carried out in place of the customary response of launching an inquiry or suspending lower-rung engineers.

Experts believe that several variables, such as the age of the structures, poor maintenance, and the effects of intense monsoon rains, contributed to the recent bridge collapses. Further weakening of the bridges has been caused by erosion at the locations where approach roads join the structures.

The public's concerns about the bridge collapse occurrences have prompted a petition to the Supreme Court, asking for a structural examination of all bridges in Bihar, both built and under construction, at the highest level.

The administration must give bridge safety a top priority as the state struggles with this infrastructure catastrophe and act quickly to stop other collapses. A thorough bridge management system, prompt repairs, and routine inspections are necessary to guarantee the security and accessibility of the state's roadways.

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