Vikramshila Bridge partially collapses into Ganga in Bihar’s Bhagalpur, traffic suspended

“No untoward incident was reported as an alert had been sounded. We have diverted Bhagalpur traffic towards Munger while traffic on the other side has been diverted towards Khagaria,” said Choudhary.

He said Bhagalpur SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav and Navgachhiya SP Rajesh Kumar arrived at the scene shortly after the collapse to coordinate a massive traffic diversion.

Officials said the state headquarters have been formally notified, and a high-level technical team is expected to arrive soon to conduct a thorough investigation and suggest repair measures. A safety check of all bridge pillars and spans is likely to be conducted.

In March this year, reports of damage to parts of the Vikramshila Bridge prompted the district administration in Bhagalpur to allay concerns about its structural safety.

The National Highway (NH) wing of the Bihar Road Construction Department (RCD) and the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the Vikramshila Setu in Bhagalpur.

The collapse has ignited a fierce debate over infrastructure negligence and the lack of proactive maintenance. As the investigation begins, the collapse stands as a grim reminder of the partial or total collapse of over one-and-a-half dozen bridges over the last two years.