Bihar govt orders probe after under-construction bridge collapses in Bhagalpur

The Bihar government today (June 4) ordered a probe after an under-construction bridge collapsed in the Bhagalpur district of the state. The under-construction bridge was being built over the Ganga river in the Aguwani-Sultanganj area. The bridge is reportedly a Rs 1,700 crore project and some of its segments had also collapsed last year.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar orders a probe into the incident of collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur and asks to identify those responsible for the incident. https://t.co/MoeA7wFzdl pic.twitter.com/HXhF2EhgVc

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

It collapsed around 6 PM. In the videos that went viral on social media, it can be seen that the bridge is collapsing like a house of cards. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in his letter said that the guilty for the accident should be identified and should be meted out harsh punishment.

#WATCH | Under construction Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar’s Bhagalpur collapses. The moment when bridge collapsed was caught on video by locals. This is the second time the bridge has collapsed. Further details awaited.

(Source: Video shot by locals) pic.twitter.com/a44D2RVQQO

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

"No casualties were reported so far in the collapse of the Aguwani -Sultanganj bridge that connects Bhagalpur with Khagaria district," and official told PTI.

"The incident occurred when four-five pillars of the Aguwani-Sultanganj under-construction bridge collapsed into the Ganga river," the official said.

Talking to PTI, Bhagalpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said, "Yes, I have received the information that 4-5 pillars of the Aguwani-Sultanganj under-construction bridge collapsed. The administration is in touch with officials of the department concerned."

#WATCH | Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav speaks on the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur which collapsed for the second time. https://t.co/MoeA7wF1nN pic.twitter.com/sgMuTGwaIs

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

Sultanganj JDU MLA Lalit Narayan Mandal said that the bridge was to be inaugurated in November-December this year. "But the way it collapsed is unfortunate. A probe must happen into the incident, there's some fault," said the MLA.

#WATCH | We were expecting that the inauguration of the bridge would happen by November-December later this year. But the way it collapsed is unfortunate. A probe must happen into the incident, there's some fault: Sultanganj JDU MLA Lalit Narayan Mandal https://t.co/MoeA7wFzdl pic.twitter.com/k1btLihs0d

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

(With inputs from PTI)