Patna: A section of the Vikramshila bridge in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district collapsed into the river Ganga late on Sunday night, prompting swift action from local authorities that officials said prevented any loss of life or property damage.
According to state officials, the incident occurred around 12.35am, when a portion of the bridge began to sink before giving way entirely. Traffic police quickly cleared vehicles from the structure after signs of structural distress were detected, averting what could have been a major disaster on one of the region’s busiest road links.
The bridge, opened in 2001 and built by the Uttar Pradesh Bridge Corporation, connects Bhagalpur with the Seemanchal region and carries significant daily traffic.
Chandrashekhar Singh, chairman of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL), said the damaged section would be rebuilt within three months. “A span of the bridge caved into the Ganga, but due to the alertness of the district and police administration, no casualties or property damage were reported,” he told reporters in Patna.
Traffic has been diverted on both sides of the river, with vehicles rerouted via the Sri Krishna Singh bridge in Munger and towards Khagaria. Authorities are also arranging steamer services to transport light vehicles across the river as a temporary measure.
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Singh said the bridge’s supporting pillar remained intact, and reconstruction would proceed based on recommendations from a technical team dispatched to the site. Experts from IIT Patna have also been asked to assess the damage and suggest restoration measures.
The collapse comes weeks after concerns were raised about minor structural issues. Officials said earlier inspections had identified damage to protective “false walls” around the pillars, though the main structure was believed to be sound at the time.
In response to the incident, the executive engineer in Bhagalpur responsible for the bridge’s maintenance has been suspended pending further investigation.
Bihar’s chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, has spoken with India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, seeking assistance from the Border Roads Organisation and the army in restoring the damaged section.
Meanwhile, construction of a parallel four-lane bridge intended to ease traffic pressure on the ageing structure is ongoing and is expected to be operational by December, officials said.
