Bihar: 1 Dead, 30 Feared Trapped After Under-Construction Bridge Over River Kosi Collapses In Supaul

An under-construction bridge over the river Kosi collapsed in Bihar’s Supaul on Friday morning, March 22 resulting in one reported fatality and several workers being trapped. District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar confirmed one casualty and nine injuries following the collapse of a segment of the bridge near Maricha, situated between Bheja and Bakaur.

The bridge, spanning 10.2 kilometers, was being built by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) over the Koshi river, connecting Bheja in Madhubani to Bakaur in Supaul district. Injured individuals were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Concerns arise as authorities suspect approximately 30 workers might still be trapped beneath the debris. The project reportedly incurred a cost of Rs 984 crore. NHAI Regional Officer YB Singh assured appropriate compensation for the deceased and injured, stating that experts have been mobilized to investigate the cause of the incident and recommend necessary corrective actions. The collapse occurred between piers 153 and 154, among the bridge’s total of 171 piers.

Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, responsible for Road Construction, ordered an inquiry into the matter and pledged punitive measures against those accountable. In a similar incident last October, a section of an 80-meter-long bridge being constructed over the Magai River by Setu Nigam collapsed due to a beam failure. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties. The bridge, being built at a cost exceeding Rs 8 crore between Katharia and Firozpur, prompted the formation of a three-member investigative team.