In Bihar's Saran district, a bridge near Dhodh Asthan Temple collapsed, marking the eighth such incident in the state over the past 15 days. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the collapse, but it caused significant inconvenience to locals.
The bridge, constructed in 2004 near an older British-era bridge over the Gandaki River, collapsed due to the erosion of its foundation caused by strong water flow. Local residents noted that cleaning work along the riverbank had recently been completed, and upon releasing water back into the river, the collapse occurred. Videos captured by locals show a large hole forming near a bridge pillar due to the water's force, leading to the collapse of the bridge's upper part into the river.
Following the incident, a two-member team comprising the Sub-Divisional Officer and an engineer from the Flood Department has been formed to investigate. Saran District Magistrate Aman Sameer confirmed that the team will provide their findings within 24 hours, after which a detailed report will be submitted to the state government.
These bridge collapses, including incidents in districts like Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj, have sparked significant political controversy in Bihar. Opposition parties have criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's administration, alleging widespread corruption that they claim has contributed to the deteriorating infrastructure and frequent bridge failures across the state.
