Second Bridge Collapse in Bihar Sparks Quality Concerns Over Public Works

A bridge in Siwan district of Bihar collapsed, marking the second such incident within a week. Officials confirmed no injuries and attributed the collapse to structural age. This event follows a similar collapse in Araria, leading to questions regarding the quality of public infrastructure in the region.

A bridge in Siwan district, Bihar, collapsed early Saturday, marking the second such event in less than a week, officials reported.

The bridge, linking Daraunda and Maharajganj blocks over a canal, caved in around 5 am, as confirmed by District Magistrate Mukul Kumar Gupta.

'Nobody was injured,' Gupta stated, indicating that the ageing structure succumbed when canal water was released, causing the pillars to cave in. 'We are striving to minimize inconvenience for residents until the bridge is restored,' he added.

Local accounts suggest the bridge was erected in 1991, funded by then Maharajganj MLA Uma Shankar Singh. Anil Kumar, Sub Divisional Magistrate of Maharajganj, verified that 'the 20-foot-long brick structure' was built via the MLA's local development fund, adding, 'Further actions will be based on the investigation report.'

The incident follows another bridge collapse on Tuesday in Araria district, which prompted the Rural Works Department to initiate actions against responsible officials. This series of mishaps raises serious concerns about the quality of public infrastructure in Bihar.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)