Bihar is facing a severe infrastructure crisis with the collapse of 10 bridges in just two weeks. The latest incident occurred in Saran district on Thursday, marking the third collapse in Saran within just two days.
On Thursday, a 15-year-old bridge over the Gandaki River collapsed, cutting off several villages in Saran from the neighbouring Siwan district.
Just one day before on Wednesday, two small bridges collapsed in the Saran district, one in Janta Bazar and in Lahladpur.
No casualties were reported and the exact cause is still under investigation. Officials suspect that recent desilting work and heavy rainfall may have contributed to the collapse.
Read : Another Bridge Collapse In Bihar: ‘5th In 9 Days’, Says Tejashwi Yadav
Apart from Saran, bridge collapses were reported in Kishanganj, Araria, East Champaran, Madhubani, Siwan, and Chhapra. In Kishanganj, two bridges collapsed between June 27 and June 30, severely affecting local communities.
Read : Bridge Collapses In Siwan District, Marks The Second Incident Of Bridge Collapse In Bihar This Week
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has now hold a high-level meeting to address the series of bridge collapses. He has directed the rural works, road construction, and building construction departments to submit an inspection report of all under-construction and old bridges within two weeks.
Few days ago, Bihar's Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav took a jibe on CM Nitish Kumar and PM Modi, saying 'Dual Engine Government has brought 'Mangalraj in Bihar', there is no corruption now.
PIL Filed in Supreme Court
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, urging the Bihar government to conduct a structural audit and establish an expert committee to assess and monitor bridges. The petition raises concerns over the safety of bridges, following reports of nine collapses in the past 15 days.
It seeks the creation of a high-level panel to examine and ensure the safety of the state's bridges, with real-time monitoring based on guidelines from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. It aims to identify and either strengthen or demolish unsafe bridges to safeguard public safety.
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