Bhagalpur/Patna: A major portion of the Vikramshila Setu, the vital bridge linking Bhagalpur and Naugachia across the Ganga, collapsed in the early hours of Monday, snapping road connectivity between northern and southern parts of eastern Bihar. No casualties were reported as alert officials cleared traffic just in time after noticing signs of distress.
The incident occurred around 12:50 am near pillar number 133, where a roughly 25-metre slab of the bridge deck gave way and plunged into the river. Bhagalpur District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary confirmed that a gap had formed between slabs, followed by the collapse. “There is no information about any vehicle falling with the slab or casualties,” he said, adding that police and administration acted swiftly to evacuate people and vehicles from the spot.
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Traffic has been halted on both sides of the 4.7-km-long bridge, which serves as a crucial link on NH-31 and NH-33, handling heavy commercial and passenger movement round the clock. Authorities have arranged steamers and boats for ferrying people and light vehicles. Commuters have been advised to take the longer detour via the Sri Krishna Singh bridge at Munger, roughly 100 km west.
Pattern of bridge failures raises serious questions
This is not an isolated failure. Bihar has earned a poor reputation over the past three years due to repeated bridge collapses, particularly in the Ganga belt, raising uncomfortable questions about construction quality, maintenance and accountability. The state’s rivers, with their strong currents and annual floods, have exposed weaknesses in several key structures, yet systemic fixes have often lagged behind knee-jerk reactions.
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Just upstream, the Aguanighat-Sultanganj bridge across the Ganga has collapsed multiple times, with three spans giving way as recently as August 2024. Despite the construction company being directed to repair the damaged portions, no strong accountability was enforced. No senior officers faced penalties, and the episode largely faded from public memory after a few engineers were suspended or transferred. Critics argue this culture of minimal consequences has contributed to a dangerous cycle of neglect.
In the case of Vikramshila Setu, warnings had surfaced months earlier. In March, videos of deteriorating protection walls (false walls or jacket rings around pillars) went viral on social media. The then Road Construction Minister had promised reconstruction, but traffic continued. A month ago, teams inspected reported damage, consulted IIT Patna, and prepared maintenance proposals that were still awaiting approval when the bridge failed.
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Bhagalpur DM Choudhary said an expert engineering committee has been formed to investigate the exact cause. An executive engineer responsible for maintenance has already been suspended. Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation (BSBCC) Chairman Chandrashekhar Singh noted that the main pillar appears intact, and repair work on the damaged section is targeted for completion within three months.
Government response and long-term plans
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who was in Delhi at the time, spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Army chief, seeking assistance from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Indian Army for alternative arrangements and faster restoration.
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Singh also highlighted that a new four-lane parallel bridge is under construction and expected to be ready by December this year. “Considering the high traffic pressure on Vikramshila Setu, this new structure will provide much-needed relief,” he said. The foundation for the ₹1,110-crore project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2020.
Local leaders and commuters, however, remain anxious. Former Bhagalpur MLA Ajeet Sharma pointed out that concerns about the bridge’s health had been raised repeatedly but were not addressed with the urgency required. Congress leader Asit Nath Tiwari questioned the pattern of “quick fixes” instead of thorough structural strengthening.
For now, traders, daily commuters, and residents in Bhagalpur, Purnia Katihar, and surrounding areas face longer journeys, higher costs, and possible supply disruptions as diverted traffic burdens alternative routes. The collapse has once again put the spotlight on the urgent need for better maintenance standards and stricter accountability in Bihar’s infrastructure projects.
