New Delhi:

Another bridge in Bihar went out of commission today, making it the sixth  in 10 days. The bridge in Thakurganj block sunk by a feet today the water level of the Bund river increased following heavy rains. The surface of the bridge cracked, making it too risky to use.  

The bridge, located in Khoshi Dangi village of Patharia panchayat, was built in 2007-2008 from the MP fund of the then MP Md Tasleemuddin of Thakurganj. But today, it could not withstand the pressure of water.

This bridge connects areas under three to four panchayats and if it collapses completely, it would affect around 60,000 people.

Yesterday, an under-construction bridge in Madhubani region collapsed. Work on the bridge, built at a cost of Rs 3 crore by the Rural Works Department of the Bihar government, has been on since 2021.

Before that, bridge collapses were reported from Araria, Siwan, East Champaran and Kishanganj.

On Thursday last week, a bridge caved in at Kishanganj district. Before that, a bridge under construction collapsed in East Champaran district on June 23. On June 22, a bridge, built over the Gandak canal, collapsed in Siwan.  

The first case was reported on June 19, when a portion of an under-construction bridge collapsed in Araria district.

The frequent collapses have triggered conspiracy theories. “Why have bridges started to collapse only after the Lok Sabha elections?” questioned Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

“Why were such incidents not taking place 15 or 30 days before? Why have bridges started to collapse only after the Lok Sabha elections? Why are they collapsing now? Is there any conspiracy to defame the state government?” he added.

An under construction bridge collapsed in Bihar’s Madhubani region on Friday in the fifth incident of its kind in the state over the last nine days.

This incident took place at Madhepur Block of Bheja police station in Madhubani district where a 75 m long bridge was under construction.

The bridge, being built at cost of Rs 3 crore, had been under construction since 2021. It was being built by the Rural Works Department of the Bihar government.

As the water levels rose, a 25 m long supporting pillar crashed into the river below.

Pictures from the site showed the fallen pillars covered with huge tarpaulin sheets.

Tejashwi Yadav, Opposition leader in Bihar assembly, was quick to spotlight the latest fall and take a swipe.

दिन के अंदर बिहार में यह वाँ पुल गिरा है।

मधुबनी-सुपौल के बीच भूतही नदी पर वर्षों से निर्माणाधीन पुल गिरा। क्या आपको पता लगा? नहीं तो, क्यों? बूझो तो जाने? #Bihar#Bridgepic.twitter.com/IirnmOzRSo

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) June 28, 2024

A bridge caved in at Kishanganj district on Thursday.

An under-construction small bridge collapsed in East Champaran district on June 23.

On June 22, a bridge, built over the Gandak canal, collapsed in Siwan.  

On June 19, a portion of an under-construction bridge collapsed in Araria. The concrete bridge over the Bakra River, built after spending crores, came apart in seconds.