Bihar’s yet-to-be-opened Araria bridge crumbles; Nitin Gadkari puts blame on Nitish Kumar’s govt

A newly constructed bridge over the Bakra river in the Sikti area of Bihar's Araria district collapsed on June 18, reported news agency PTI. The bridge near Padkiya Ghat, which cost crores of rupees to construct, has yet to be inaugurated.

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On Tuesday, three pillars of the new bridge collapsed into the Bakra river.

Locals alleged that the bridge was constructed with low-cost materials.

After the bridge collapsed, the team that constructed it and the local administration reached the spot.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Inayat Khan assured that the matter would be appropriately investigated.

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According to sources, the bridge's construction was complete, but it was not opened to the public as the approach roads were not ready.

Eight pillars were constructed in the third phase, while the remaining eight pillars were constructed in the first and second phases. All the pillars made during the first and second phases are standing intact.

The district's rural works department constructed the bridge. Sikti MLA Vijay Mandal alleged that the approach road for the bridge was not even completed and that the pillars were not made using good materials.

Assuring prompt action, JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar said, as quoted by PTI, “The bridge's utility had reduced after the flow of the river changed. However, the district administration has taken cognizance of the incident. Officials of the Rural Works Department will reach Araria tomorrow to take stock of the situation. Strict action will be taken against those who are responsible for the incident.”

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also commented on the incident. “The bridge that collapsed in Araria, Bihar was not constructed under the Central Road Transport Ministry. Its work was going on under the Rural Development Ministry of the Bihar government,” Gadkari said in a post on social media.

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JD(U) leader Kumar blamed the construction company for the bridge collapse. “The bridge has collapsed due to negligence by the construction company's owner. We demand that the administration should conduct an investigation,” he told news agency ANI.

This is not the first time a bridge has collapsed in Bihar. In 2023, a bridge built over the Ganga river collapsed in Sultangunj, and another bridge—built over the Kosi river in Supaul town—collapsed in March 2024. In the second incident, a worker died.

With agency inputs.