Patna: Bihar’s chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, has sought assistance from the Indian Army to fast-track repairs to the Vikramshila Bridge after a section of the structure collapsed into the Ganges, disrupting connectivity across eastern parts of the state.
Officials said a roughly 34-metre stretch of the 4.7km bridge gave way late on Sunday night. Traffic had been halted shortly before the collapse, preventing casualties. The bridge, a key arterial link in Bhagalpur district, connects nearly 16 districts, including the Seemanchal region, and is used daily by an estimated 100,000 commuters.
In the aftermath, the state’s road construction department suspended an executive engineer, citing negligence. The incident has intensified scrutiny of maintenance practices, particularly as the bridge has undergone repairs three times in the past decade, most recently in March 2026.
Choudhary held discussions with India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, and senior army leadership to expedite restoration work. According to officials, preparations are under way to deploy the Indian Army to assist with repairs, with the aim of restoring connectivity as quickly as possible.
The collapse has significantly disrupted daily movement and transport networks in the region, raising concerns about infrastructure resilience and oversight.
