Patna: Patna’s newly inaugurated Kachi Dargah- Bidupur six-lane bridge has become a hotspot for dangerous stunts, just four days after its opening, as videos circulate on social media showing young riders risking their lives and the safety of others.
Footage widely shared on X and Instagram captures alarming scenes: two youths riding a motorbike without touching the handlebars, one even standing upright on the speeding bike as it clocks over 80 km/h, while his companion swerves in sharp wave-like cuts. Another viral clip shows a pickup truck driver tilting the vehicle onto two wheels at high speed.
While police have yet to identify many of the stunt performers in these videos, officers have intervened on several occasions. “We have caught some youths doing stunts and made them perform sit-ups on the bridge as a punishment before releasing them,” said Dharmendra Kumar, officer-in-charge of Rustampur police station.
The peril of such stunts was underscored on Wednesday night when two Apache motorcycles collided head-on near pillar number 15 of the bridge, resulting in the death of 15-year-old Bittu Kumar, son of Jhimi Lal Rai from Jafarabad village in the Rustampur area. Four others — Karu Kumar, Jitendra Kumar, Bablu Kumar Shah, and another youth — were seriously injured and admitted to NMCH hospital. All are reported to be in stable condition.
Police say the group had been filming reels for social media while performing stunts when the crash occurred. “The video of youths performing stunts has gone viral. We are investigating the footage and working to identify those involved,” said Kumar, adding that police patrols, including Dial 112 units, are now regularly deployed on the bridge to curb further incidents.
Local residents, alarmed by the growing trend, have urged authorities to install CCTV cameras on the bridge and enforce stricter action against stunt performers. “Since the inauguration, there’s been a surge in youths making reels and stunts here. Even a moment’s negligence can lead to tragedy,” one resident said.
Police officials have vowed continued vigilance. “Some boys are still attempting stunts. We’re identifying them and taking action. Patrolling will continue to ensure such dangerous activities are stopped,” Kumar confirmed.
