Another Bihar Bridge Collapse Video Sparks Debate, RJD Says '5th Incident In 9 Days'

An under-construction bridge reportedly collapsed in Bihar’s Madhubani region on Friday triggering debate over the recent bridge collapses in the state on social media. Following the news, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was quick in taking a swipe at the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government over the alleged incident and claimed that it is the “fifth incident of its kind in the state over the last nine days”.

According to news agency PTI, the bridge on the Bhutahi river in Madhubani region collapse earlier today, while an India Today report said that the bridge collapsed before June 24.

The bridge, being built at cost of Rs 3 crore, had been under construction since 2021, NDTV reported. It was being built by the Rural Works Department of the Bihar government.

The incident reportedly took place at Madhepur Block of Bheja police station in Madhubani district. A 25 m long supporting pillar of the 75 m long bridge collapsed into the river as the water level rose. Visuals of the site surfaced on social media showed the fallen pillars covered with huge tarpaulin sheets.

Opposition leader in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav took to the microblogging site X and shared pictures of the damaged bridge.

Four incidents of bridge collapse were reported in Bihar over the past nine days.

A bridge collapsed in the Kishanganj district on June 27. The 70-meter bridge was built on a tributary of the Kankai River and connected Bahadurganj and Dighalbank blocks. No injuries were reported in the incident.

District Magistrate Tushar Singla said the bridge was built in 2011 over Madiya, a small tributary that connects the Kankai River to the Mahananda.

“Heavy rainfall in the catchment area in Nepal has led to a sudden rise in the water level. One of the pillars of the bridge could not withstand the strong current,” Singla was quoted by PTI as saying.

A bridge collapsed in the Siwan district on June 22 causing widespread panic and commotion. The collapse of the bridge took place over the Gandak canal and reverberated to the neighbouring Ramgarh in the Darbhanga district.

A newly constructed bridge collapsed in the Araria district on June 19 before the inauguration. No casualties were reported. The bridge, built at the cost of Rs 12 Crore on the Bakra River connected Sikti and Kursakanta blocks.