On Camera, Under-Construction Bridge Collapses in Bihar's Supaul; One Dead, Several Trapped

At least one person was killed and 10 others were injured after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Bihar’s Supaul on Friday morning. The incident took place at Maricha, between Bheja and Bakaur, when a slab of an under-construction bridge being built over the Kosi River collapsed.

Several construction workers are feared to be trapped under the debris. The authorities are on the spot and the rescue operations have been started with the help of local volunteers.

Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, who holds the Road Construction portfolio, said that an inquiry has been ordered and action will be taken against those responsible for the incident.

“An accident has occurred on an under-construction bridge over the Kosi river. The portion of that bridge fell down which led to the death of 1 person and 10 injured. We have spoken to the district officer. The deceased family will get Rs 10 lakh through related agencies…A full-fledged investigation is required to find who is the main culprit”, he said.

Sinha said he was in constant touch with the NHAI as well as the district administration.

Supaul District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar said the injured are undergoing treatment at the district hospital. He did not rule out the possibility of more deaths.

Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha later announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased worker and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured. “The government of India has a clear direction to take care of all the medical requirements of the workers and also to conduct a fair investigation…” he added.

The country’s longest road bridge is being built between Bakour in Supaul and Bheja in Madhubani district. The 10.2-km bridge was being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of Rs 984 crore. Two companies – Gammon India and Trans Rail Lighting Limited– are jointly overseeing its construction.

NHAI Regional Officer YB Singh told news agency PTI that the bridge has 171 piers, and the span between piers 153 and 154 collapsed.

“Adequate compensation for the deceased as well as injured victims is being arranged. Experts have been briefed and asked to assess the reason for the accident and suggest necessary remedial measures. Senior NHAI officers have rushed to the site to take immediate action on the matter,” he added.

As per unconfirmed media reports, more than 40 labourers were working when pillars collapsed at around 7:30 am.

The incident bears eerie similarities to another incident last year when a superstructure of our-lane Sultanganj-Aguani Ghat bridge across the Ganga River in Bhagalpur district collapsed on June 4, 2023.

The under-construction bridge, to link Bhagalpur and Khagaria in Bihar first collapsed on April 30, 2023, and then a second time on June 4.