Hajipur, Patna : Four workers were injured after a bridge launcher fell during shifting work at an under-construction bridge site in Lalganj, Vaishali, on September 10.
The bridge is being constructed as part of the four-laning of NH-139W under the Bharatmala project.
Following the accident, the injured workers were taken to Lalganj Referral Hospital.
The incident caused panic at the construction site, with police and officials reaching the spot after being informed about the accident.
NHAI Says Incident Happened During Launcher Shifting
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the incident occurred during the process of shifting the launcher being used for bridge construction.
In a press statement issued on September 10, NHAI described the incident as an unexpected event and said that the bridge structure suffered no damage.
The authority said workers present at the worksite were injured and were immediately sent to a nearby hospital for medical assistance. The project team is continuously monitoring their health, according to the statement.
NHAI said it remains committed to construction quality, worker safety and timely completion of the project. It added that safety standards are being strictly reassessed to prevent a similar incident from occurring again.
Locals Claim More Than 15 People Hurt
However, local residents claimed that more than 15 people may have been injured in the accident.
Residents also alleged that some officials left the site after the incident and were not responding to phone calls. These allegations could not be independently verified.
Local people further claimed that one worker was still trapped on the upper portion of the structure following the accident.
They said police were using a JCB to remove the fallen launcher, but expressed concern that another part of the equipment could break or fall during the clearance operation, potentially endangering people at the site.
One Worker Reportedly Trapped
According to people present near the site, one worker remained trapped above the fallen equipment after the launcher collapsed.
Residents said rescue and clearance efforts were being carried out carefully because of the unstable condition of the machinery.
One local resident, whose village is around 1 km from the accident site, claimed that by the time they reached the location, some injured people had already been taken away in vehicles for treatment.
Deaths Feared, But No Official Confirmation
Local residents also expressed concern that some people may have died in the accident.
However, there was no official confirmation of any death in the information available. NHAI’s statement mentioned injuries to workers but did not report any fatalities.
The difference between the four injured workers reported in connection with hospital treatment and the higher estimate of more than 15 injured people claimed by local residents remains to be clarified.
What Is A Bridge Launcher?
A bridge launcher, also known as a bridge girder launcher or launching gantry, is specialised heavy equipment used in bridge construction.
It is designed to move and place large concrete or steel girders on bridge piers. Such machinery is particularly useful at locations where conventional cranes are difficult to operate, including over rivers, deep gaps or busy roads.
The accident occurred while the launching equipment was being shifted, according to the NHAI statement.
Safety Review Underway
NHAI said the incident has prompted a strict reassessment of safety standards at the project site.
The authority said the review is intended to ensure that such an incident does not recur and reiterated its commitment to worker safety and construction quality.
