In a major setback to the ongoing construction of the four-lane Sultanganj-Aguani Ghat bridge across the Ganga in Bihar, its superstructure connecting Sultanganj in Bhagalpur with Khagaria collapsed on June 4 evening.
As per the reports, around 30 slabs of various pillars, including pillar numbers 9, 10, and 11, each reaching about 100 feet, collapsed. This is the second collapse that occurred in 14 months on the same under-construction bridge.
The first collapse happened last year in April 2022 when the superstructures of the pillar numbers 4, 5 and 6 collapsed. The reason stated behind the collapse was the loose cable stand. Though for the 2022 mishap, people are allegedly blaming the use of poor-quality of construction material.
Chief Minister Nitesh Kumar has ordered an investigation to look into the bridge collapse. He asked the additional chief secretary of the state road construction department Pratyaya Amrit to find and identify those responsible for this mishap and take strict action against them.
At the press conference, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said, “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”.
While talking about the defects in the bridge, the Deputy Chief Minister added, “Many structural defects have been pointed out by experts, and we have already pulled down many portions which have been flagged as particularly vulnerable. Today’s incident confirms our worst apprehensions”.
The Government has ordered a probe into the mishap. As per the reports, the guard working over there has gone missing. The Circle Officer of Parbatta, Chandan Kumar, said, “After the bridge collapse, a person working as a guard with SP Singla Company is said to be missing. His body has not been recovered yet. Search by SDRF and NDRF teams is underway to trace him”.
The foundation of the bridge was laid on February 23, 2014, by the Chief Minister. It was projected that the construction of the bridge would be completed by March 2020, but it has been delayed for over three years.
The bridge constructed by SP Singla Construction Limited for the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) has collapsed for the second time due to “structural mishandling and design fault”.
Reacting to this mishap, BJP state president Samrat Choudhary has demanded the resignation of CM Nitish Kumar. Even the BJP leader from Bhagalpur, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, a former MP, stated that this bridge mishap was caused because of ‘corruption’ and demanded a ‘high-level inquiry’.
The BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonwalla went on Twitter and took a dig at the CM and described the bridge as the ‘bridge of corruption’, “Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar’s Bhagalpur – dream project of CM Nitish Kumar collapses. This is the second time the bridge has collapsed. Imagine the level of corruption ! ₹1750 crores of tax payer money takes Jal Samadhi with the bridge. THE BRIDGE OF CORRUPTION COLLAPSES EVEN AS NITISH BABU IS BUSY ATTEMPTING TO BE A BRIDGE OF OPPOSITION UNITY. Wait & see how Pappu Media ignores this story or somehow blames PM Modi for it”.
Another BJP spokesperson Priti Gandhi advised the Chief Minister should concentrate on Bihar. She tweeted, “Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar collapsed into the Ganga few hours ago. The bridge, being made at a cost ₹1710 crores, was to connect Khagaria & Bhagalpur districts. Instead of poking his nose in issues not concerning him, Nitish Kumar should concentrate on his own state!!”.
The BJP IT-cell head Amit Malviya has asked for the resignation of CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav for the mishap. He tweeted, “Today, the bridge being built on the river Ganga between Sultanganj and Khagaria of Bhagalpur in Bihar collapsed. In 2015, Nitish Kumar inaugurated this bridge, which was to be completed by 2020. This bridge has fallen for the second time. Will Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav resign immediately, taking cognizance of this incident? By doing this, both the uncle and nephew can set an example in front of the country”.
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