"Everything is being investigated," says Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary on frequent Bihar bridge collapses

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 4 (ANI): Amid a series of bridge collapses in Bihar, State Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday said that investigations are ongoing and action will be taken against negligent officers.
"I am getting each and everything investigated. I have given directions for swift action. I will get a list issued - when was it built, who built it. As per the information we have received, they were built by recommendations of several MLAs. Everything is being investigated. Action will be taken, there is no doubt about it. Action will be taken against negligent officers," Choudhary said.
Notably, five bridges in Araria, Siwan, East Champaran, Kishanganj, and Madhubani districts collapsed across the state in June last month.
The first incident of a bridge collapse was reported on June 18 in Araria.
On June 22, a bridge over the Gandak River in Siwan, approximately 40-45 years old, also fell. On June 23, a bridge under construction in East Champaran, costing around Rs 1.5 crore, collapsed, with locals blaming the use of substandard materials.
On June 18, a newly constructed bridge over the Bakra River in Pararia village of Bihar's Araria district collapsed.
Last month, Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Jitan Ram Manjhi, raised concerns over the recurrent collapse of bridges in Bihar, claiming a possible conspiracy behind the incidents.
"It is a matter of concern that bridges are collapsing (in Bihar). It looks as if poor-quality material might have been used. But why were the bridges not collapsing before 15 days or a month ago? Why are they collapsing now? Is there a conspiracy behind it?" Manjhi said.
A total of six bridges collapsed on the Gandak river in Bihar's Siwan and Saran over the last two days, officials said, blaming engineers and contractors for the back-to-back incidents.
Several projects, including the de-siltation of rivers, were initiated after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took feedback in Gopalganj and adjoining areas. It seems that engineers did not take care and the contractors were not careful, officials said, adding, "Engineers concerned seem to be at fault prima facie."
Special teams have been sent to the spot, and strict action has been taken against engineers and contractors, they said.
Officials further said that new bridges will be constructed and the cost of construction will be borne by the contractors concerned.
Most of these bridges were thirty years old and the foundations were not very deep, they said, adding that the foundation was damaged during de-siltation.
The bridge connecting Araria's Sikhti and Kursakatta was washed away before its inauguration.
Last year in June, a portion of a temporary bridge built on River Ganga in the Vaishali district of Bihar was partly washed away by strong winds.
The temporary bridge connected Raghopur to the Vaishali District Headquarters. (ANI)
Last year, in June, a portion of a temporary bridge built on the River Ganga in the Vaishali district of Bihar was partly washed away by strong winds. The temporary bridge connected Raghopur to the Vaishali District Headquarters. (ANI)