Two Bridge Collapses in Bihar’s Saran District: A Historical and Political Context

In a concerning development, two bridges in Bihar’s Saran district collapsed on the same day, marking the ninth such incident in the state within the last 15 days. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The collapse of these bridges has severely disrupted communication between several villages, impacting local businesses and access to essential services such as schools and hospitals.

Historical Context: Both bridges spanned the Gandaki River. The first bridge, constructed in 2004 near a British-era bridge, collapsed today. Local residents noted that riverbank cleaning was underway, and upon its completion, water was released into the river, coinciding with the bridge’s collapse. Witnesses captured the incident on their mobile phones and shared it on social media.

The second bridge, over 100 years old and dating back to the British colonial period, succumbed to the heavy monsoon rains. The strong water flow created a large hole near one of the bridge’s pillars, eroding its foundation and causing the upper structure to collapse into the river.

Investigation and Political Repercussions: A two-member team, led by the Sub-Divisional Officer and an engineer from the Flood Department, has been formed to investigate the incident. Saran District Magistrate Aman Sameer stated that the team would submit their findings within 24 hours, after which a detailed report will be sent to the state government.

Similar incidents have been reported in other districts, including Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj. These frequent bridge collapses have become a significant political issue, with opposition parties criticizing the Nitish Kumar-led government for alleged corruption and administrative failures that they claim have led to these infrastructural failures.

Summary:

• Two bridges in Bihar’s Saran district collapsed on the same day.
• This marks the ninth bridge collapse in the state within 15 days.
• The collapses have disrupted local communication, businesses, and access to essential services.
• One bridge, built in 2004, collapsed after riverbank cleaning and water release.
• The second bridge, over 100 years old from the British era, collapsed due to heavy monsoon rains.
• A two-member investigation team has been formed to report on the incident within 24 hours.
• Similar incidents have occurred in other districts, raising political tensions and accusations of corruption against the state government.