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Under construction bridge collapses in Bhagalpur, first visuals emerge

Bhagalpur

In Bhagalpur, the under-construction four-lane bridge over the Ganga River between Sultanganj and Aguwani collapsed for the third time on Saturday. The section between pillars nine and ten on the Aguwani side crumbled into the river. The bridge, being built by S.P. Singla Company, is intended to connect Khagaria and Bhagalpur districts. This is not the first collapse; on June 4, 2023, the superstructure of the bridge had similarly fallen into the river, resulting in the disappearance of two guards stationed on the bridge at the time. 

Before that, on April 27, 2022, another section of the bridge collapsed due to strong winds and rain, with around 100 feet of the structure giving way. Fortunately, no one was injured in that incident. Construction resumed afterward, with nearly 80 percent of the superstructure completed this time, and about 45 percent of the approach road work finished. 

The Sultanganj-Aguwani bridge is a key project by the Bihar government to connect North and South Bihar. Initially valued at ₹1,710.77 crore, the project was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on February 23, 2014. Once completed, the bridge and its connecting roadways will link NH 31 and NH 80. The bridge is 3.16 kilometers long, with the approach road extending approximately 25 kilometers.

On Saturday morning, the ninth pillar of the Aguwani bridge, along with its slab and structure, sank into the Ganga River. Locals pointed out that this was the third time the bridge had collapsed, yet no impartial investigation has been conducted.

The collapse is attributed to the river's floodwaters and strong currents, which caused part of the structure above pillar nine to give way and sink. When the structure fell into the river, people gathered at the site, noting that the bridge had fallen again.

On the night of April 30, 2022, pillar number five had collapsed due to strong winds. On June 4, 2023, pillars 10, 11, and 12 of the under-construction bridge had suddenly collapsed into the river at Aguwani Ganga Ghat. These incidents have sparked political controversy in Bihar, with leaders from opposing sides blaming each other.

The repeated bridge collapses point to corruption within the building department, highlighting issues such as the use of substandard materials and improper land assessment during construction. These incidents raise serious questions about the effectiveness of Bihar's government systems.

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