1 worker dead, 8 injured as under-construction bridge in Bihar collapses

VIDEO | Several workers are reportedly trapped as a part of an under-construction bridge over #Kosi River collapses in Bihar’s #Supaul. Rescue work underway. More details are awaited.#BiharNews

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/iNU9SGLevQ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 22, 2024

The incident took place at around 7 am. Three slabs from pillar numbers 152, 153 and 154 collapsed. “Rescue and relief work is underway to find out if more workers are trapped inside the debris,” Supaul District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar said.

A part of the Centre’s ambitious Bharatmala Project, the Supaul bridge is a joint venture between Gammon Engineers and Contractors Private Limited and Transrail Lighting Limited. The project was awarded by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd and Transrail Lighting Limited is in charge of the construction.

Last year, in June, a 200-metre stretch of the upcoming Aguani (Khagaria)-Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) bridge over the Ganga River had caved in after three pillars supporting it collapsed. No casualties were reported. The 3.1-km bridge being built at a cost of Rs 1,710 crore was scheduled to be completed in 2019 and had received four extensions.

In April 2022, the superstructure of an under-construction four-lane bridge over the Ganga River linking Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) and Khagaria collapsed. No casualties were reported in the incident. This was one of the biggest bridges being built over the Ganga River.