Fourth bridge collapses in 10 days in Bihar

NEW DELHI: A bridge in the Kishanganj district of Bihar collapsed on Thursday, marking the fourth such incident in the state within just over a week, according to officials. The 70-meter-long and 12-meter-wide bridge in Bahadurganj block gave way due to heavy rainfall that triggered a sudden rise in water levels, causing one of its pillars to fail.

"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," said District Magistrate Tushar Singla.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Authorities have placed barricades at both ends of the bridge to stop any movement while repairs are underway.

Three similar bridge collapses were reported last week in the Araria, Siwan, and Araria districts of Bihar.

In recent years, numerous incidents of bridge collapses have occurred in the state, raising questions about the quality of public works. Though these incidents have not resulted in fatalities, they have caused significant concern among the local population.