₹264-crore bridge collapses into river 29 days after inauguration by Bihar CM

Gopalganj: A brand new bridge collapsed after heavy rain yesterday in Bihar just a month after it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Over Rs 260 crore was spent on the bridge built on river Gandak in Gopalganj, around 150 km from Patna.

A portion of the Sattarghat Bridge crumbled and fell into the river after the water level increased. Bihar has received heavy monsoon rain in the last four days.

Reports quoting officials say the culverts connecting the road to the bridge could not withstand the water pressure. Large tracts around the area are under flood waters.

The 1.4 km long Sattarghat Bridge was thrown open to the public on June 16. The construction of the bridge was started eight years ago by the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd.

Opposition leaders were quick to target Nitish Kumar on Twitter. Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader and former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav's son, Tejaswi Yadav wrote on the microblogging site: "Bridge was built in eight years and at a cost of Rs 263 crore but in just 29 days it gave away. The Bhishma Pitamah of corruption Nitisj Ji will not speak a word about it...there is looting in Bihar everywhere...

"Washing away of bridges has become a common thing under Nitish Kumar's rule. Did he inaugurate the bridge before time just to gain some appreciation? We demand that the Bihar government should immediately blacklist the company that has constructed the bridge," Tejaswi Yadav told news agency ANI. Bihar Congress chief, Madan Mohan Jha also took potshots at the Chief Minister on Twitter. "The bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs 263.47 crore and inaugurated on June 16. It was washed away on July 15. Now, don't accuse rats for this," Mr Jha wrote on Twitter.

On June 16, the Chief Minister had posted pictures of laying the foundation stones of several infrastructure projects via video conferencing from the state Secretariat.

The Sattarghat Bridge, connecting Gopalgunj and East Champaran districts is 1.4 km long. It was thrown open to the public on June 16. The construction of the bridge was started eight years ago by the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd.

Government officials and a team of engineers of the construction company reached the spot yesterday evening to assess the damage.