In a troubling sequence of events, a bridge in Bihar’s Kishanganj district collapsed on Thursday, marking the fourth such incident in just over a week, officials reported. The 70-meter-long, 12-meter-wide structure in Bahadurganj block gave way due to heavy rainfall that caused a sudden rise in water levels, leading to the failure of one of its pillars.
District Magistrate Tushar Singla explained, “The bridge, constructed in 2011 over Madiya, a small tributary connecting the Kankai river to the Mahananda, succumbed to the strong currents caused by heavy rainfall in Nepal’s catchment area.”
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this collapse. Authorities have swiftly responded by placing barricades at both ends of the bridge to prevent any movement, while efforts are underway to initiate repairs.
This incident follows three similar bridge collapses reported last week in Araria, Siwan, and Araria districts of Bihar. The recurring collapses have raised significant concerns about the quality of infrastructure in the state, though thankfully, they have not resulted in fatalities.