The construction of the 3.1-kilometer-long bridge connecting Aguani in Khagaria district with Sultanganj in Bhagalpur began in 2014 and was expected to be completed in 2019. However, on Sunday 4-Lane Bridge fell like a house of cards in Bihar.
Bridge over Ganga ‘collapses’
The superstructure connecting Sultanganj in Bhagalpur with Khagaria collapsed Sunday evening, causing a major disappointment to the ongoing construction of the four-lane Sultanganj-Aguani Ghat bridge across the Ganga in Bihar. At least 30 slabs of several pillars, including pillars nos. 9, 10, and 11, measuring around 100ft, collapsed, according to sources.
According to PTI, The Bihar government said that the collapsed section was deliberately pulled down because experts had identified design flaws in the structure. The 3.1-kilometer-long bridge connecting Aguani in Khagaria district with Sultanganj in Bhagalpur began construction in 2014 and was expected to be completed in 2019. Since then, the deadline has been extended four times.
#WATCH | Under construction Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar’s Bhagalpur collapses. The moment when bridge collapsed was caught on video by locals. This is the second time the bridge has collapsed. Further details awaited.
(Source: Video shot by locals) pic.twitter.com/a44D2RVQQO
— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023
SP Singla Constructions Private Limited was responsible for the bridge’s construction, which cost Rs 1,710 crore.
After images of the collapsed bridge were widely shared on social media, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and Additional Chief Secretary of Road Construction Department Pratyay Amrit held a press conference on Sunday.
"The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also…It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again & again," says @NitishKumar on Bhagalpur Bridge collapse.#Bihar #BridgeCollapse #ITVideo pic.twitter.com/kxNoVn8nOf
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) June 5, 2023
“It may be recalled that a portion of this bridge had collapsed on April 30 last year. We had, thereafter, approached IIT-Roorkee, which is esteemed for its expertise in construction matters, to conduct a study. It is yet to come up with a final report but experts who had studied the structure had informed us that there were serious defects,” Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said at the press conference.
''डिजाइन में पहले से ही फॉल्ट था, इसे पूरे तरीके से ध्वस्त करके फिर से कार्य प्रारंभ करने का हमारा निर्णय था''
निर्माणाधीन पुल गिरने की घटना पर बिहार के डिप्टी CM @yadavtejashwi का बयान #TejashwiYadav #Bihar #Bhagalpur | Tejashwi yadav pic.twitter.com/ZGpVuT7z56
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) June 4, 2023
Netizens React
Alot to learn from Nitish Kumar. Its only under his leadership such things is possible. If the bridge had collasped after inauguration, 100s of people would have lost their lives. But Nitish is foresighted and he saved 100s of lives. #NitishForPM
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) June 4, 2023
This man #manishkashap prediction comes true. #NitishKumar#Bihar#suchtak#BridgeCollapse pic.twitter.com/6LL86CipFb
— Integral man (@ulalu_ka_patta) June 4, 2023
Hollywood Film Makers to shoot war movies in Bihar due to frequent availability of original bridge collapse as film sets.pic.twitter.com/gd2DJRQt52
— Prof.N John Camm (@njohncamm) June 5, 2023
How many will demand Nitish Kumar’s resignation?
1717 crore INR ke naam ki chudiyaan kaun todega? Kya liberandus ko time milega inn sab ke liye?
Bane rahiye ANI ke sath..???
— Yakshesh Patel (@TheYaksh) June 4, 2023
This is what happens when you send all your state’s best talent to Maharashtra.
— Chirag Barjatya (@chiragbarjatyaa) June 4, 2023
At least Nitish Kumar will be quiet now.
— The Hawk Eye (@thehawkeyex) June 4, 2023
The Founding stone was laid by our panauti right?
Sengol effect..
— Ganesh Kumar (@slganesh1) June 4, 2023
I read Bihar and moved onto the next tweet ! Bihar needs a very drastic change !
— Jaspreet Singh GujraL (@iamkingjaspreet) June 4, 2023