Bridge Collapse in Bihar Sparks Political Blame Game

A portion of an under-construction bridge in Bihar collapsed into the Ganges River, prompting a political blame game. No casualties were reported. The collapse, which follows previous incidents, saw local politicians trading accusations over responsibility. The dismantling was ordered by the Patna High Court due to structural flaws.

A section of a bridge under construction in Bihar fell into the Ganges River on Saturday, according to officials. The administration confirmed there were no casualties from the incident.

Video footage of the bridge, which aims to connect the Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts, has gone viral on social media, showing locals screaming in horror as they witnessed the collapse.

Notably, the 3.16 km long bridge has faced previous collapses in 2022 and again a year later.

Khagaria District Magistrate Amit Kumar Pandey stated that the bridge was being dismantled under the direction of the Patna High Court due to acknowledged structural issues.

The incident has incited a political dispute, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, a former deputy chief minister, blaming the Nitish Kumar government for the collapse, citing a prior examination by IIT Roorkee experts that found design flaws.

Countering the accusation, current Deputy CM and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha blamed the previous government for the situation but acknowledged dissatisfaction with the current contractor's performance, pledging to report their laxity to the high court for action.

(With inputs from agencies.)