Bhagalpur/Patna: A major mishap was narrowly averted in Bhagalpur district, Bihar, after a concrete slab fell from a transport vehicle onto the under-construction Bihpur-Virpur bridge across the Kosi river, damaging part of the structure late on Friday night.
According to officials, a 90-wheeled truck was transporting the large concrete slab for installation on the bridge when the load suddenly slipped and crashed into the bridge’s railing, causing a section approximately 5 to 7 feet long to break away and plunge into the river below.
Rumours quickly spread in the surrounding areas that the entire bridge had collapsed, prompting crowds of worried locals to rush to the site.
The Bihpur-Virpur bridge is a key infrastructure project being built along National Highway 106 under the Prime Minister’s package. Approved in 2015, the 6.94km-long bridge, alongside nearly 22km of approach roads, is set to be Bihar’s longest bridge and a vital link for the flood-prone Kosi region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the bridge via video conferencing in 2020, with construction starting in June 2021 under Apscon Infrastructure and Afcon, a Mumbai-based company responsible for bridge works. The Rs 996 crore project was initially targeted for completion by June 2024 but has been delayed, with a new target of 2026.
Once finished, the bridge is expected to drastically reduce travel time between Bihpur and Udakishunganj, improving transport for farmers and easing the movement of goods such as maize, milk, and vegetables to markets in Bhagalpur. It is also seen as a critical lifeline for the region during frequent floods.
Following the incident, engineers from Afcon rushed to the site and began repairs. Authorities have assured the public that the damage is limited.
“The boundary of the bridge has been damaged. We have asked the company to fix it. The company engaged in the construction work will get it repaired. There is not much damage. A small section of slab and railing have been affected. The incident happened due to the vehicle hitting the railing while carrying the slab,” said Rituraj Pratap Singh, Sub-Divisional Officer of Navgachiya.
Investigation into the mishap is underway, while reconstruction work continues to keep the project on schedule.
