Bridge over the Bakra river: a portion of a newly constructed bridge collapsed in Pararia village of Bihar’s Araria district on Tuesday before its inauguration.
Araria district magistrate Inayat Khan confirmed that there were no casualties. Videos of the collapsed bridge have gone viral on social media.
The project, costing ₹7.79 crore, was intended to reduce travel time between Araria and Kishanganj districts and facilitate easier movement for residents in the Sikti and Kursakanta blocks.
VIDEO | A portion of a bridge on Bakra river collapses in Bihar's Araria. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/hiLnY8NNfl
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 18, 2024
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday issued a clarification that the bridge which collapsed in Bihar’s Araria district was not constructed under the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry. Gadkari said that the construction was overseen by the Rural Development Ministry of the Bihar government.
This latest incident has happened after an under-construction fly over on the Kosi River collapsed in Supaul district in March, this year. In this collapse in Supaul, one person had died while 10 others suffered injuries.
Member of Parliament Pradeep Kumar Singh and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MLA Vijay Kumar Mandal have attributed it to negligent reporting and departmental apathy. They alleged that poor quality work was done at night during piling of the structure. The MP called for a high-level investigation into the matter and demanded action against responsible officials and supervisors.
Recent incidents of bridge collapses in India
- Mizoram: At least 26 people were killed when a railway fly over under construction collapsed near the town of Sairang.
- In Bihar, India, there have been several fly overs collapses in the past few years, with ten bridges collapsing in the last three years alone.
- Gujrat: Morbi bridge collapse, which occurred in October 2022, was a tragic event where a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in Gujarat, India, collapsed, leading to the loss of at least 135 lives and injuries to more than 180 people.
Common reasons for bridge collapses include:
- Design flaws: Inadequate fly over design can lead to structural failures.
- Material failure: Use of substandard materials or corrosion over time can weaken a way over.
- Natural disasters: Earthquakes, floods, and strong winds can damage fly over beyond their capacity to withstand such events.
- Human error: Mistakes during construction or lack of proper maintenance can lead to collapses.
- Overloading: Exceeding the weight limits that a fly over can handle can cause it to fail.
Bihar’s infrastructure projects
Bihar’s state government has been focusing on enhancing road, rail, and air connectivity through various ambitious projects. This includes the expansion of national highways, construction of new bridges, and modernization of railway stations. Additionally, projects like the Patna Metro and regional airport development are underway to ease congestion and improve mobility.
The Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA) under the Bihar State Infrastructure Development Enabling Act 2006, and the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (BUIDCO) are key organizations involved in these initiatives
Bihar faces several challenges in its infrastructure development, including:
- Power shortages: The state has significantly lower per capita power availability compared to the national average, which hampers economic activities.
- Water scarcity: Access to clean water remains a concern, affecting both urban and rural areas.
- Inadequate sanitation and poor waste management: These issues contribute to health problems and environmental degradation.
- Poor connectivity: Inadequate road networks and public transportation limit access to essential services like healthcare.
- Weak governance: This has historically affected the state’s development strategy and implementation of projects.
- Bihar – Towards a development strategy (worldbank.org)
Preventing bridge collapses involves several measures:
- Stringent Quality Control: Ensuring the use of high-quality materials and adherence to safety standards during construction.
- Regular Inspections: Conducting thorough and regular inspections of bridges to identify and repair potential issues before they lead to a collapse.
- Advanced Design: Utilizing modern design techniques and technologies that can withstand natural calamities and heavy usage.
- Skilled Workforce: Employing experienced engineers and construction workers who are trained in best practices.
- Government Oversight: Implementing strict regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with construction codes and safety regulations.
