Bihar's Jitan Ram Manjhi finds 'conspiracy' theory in incidents of bridge collapse in state 

Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

Union Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Jitan Ram Manjhi who is from Bihar have said that the incidents of bridge collapse may be related to poor-quality material being used for construction.

The minister in the while speaking to news agency ANI said,""It is a matter of concern that bridges are collapsing (in Bihar). It looks as if poor-quality material might have been used. But why were the bridges not collapsing before 15 days or a month ago? Why are they collapsing now? Is there a conspiracy behind it? These things are being done on purpose to tarnish the image of the government. Bridges are collapsing continuously, I think this is happening on purpose. But, the government is taking strict action against the contractors and engineers of the collapsed bridges. The government will make sure that this does not happen again."

The state has been witness to several mishaps involving bridges, large and small, constructed over rivers and other water bodies. Though such incidents have not resulted in casualties, these have led to questions being raised on the quality of public works.

#WATCH | Gaya, Bihar: Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) says, "It is a matter of concern that bridges are collapsing (in Bihar). It looks as if poor-quality material might have been used. But why were the bridges not collapsing before… pic.twitter.com/86p8Ak5ErL

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024

Another instance of bridge collapse has come to the fore in Bihar, making it the fifth such incident to have been reported from the state in just over a week.

Bihar has witnessed five incidents of bridge collapse in just over a week and the latest incident has been reported from the Bheja police station area of Madhubani district, situated in the state's northern extreme, along the borders with Nepal.

Officials were tight-lipped about the incident, though sources in the Rural Works Department, which was entrusted with the construction of the 75-metre-long bridge, confirmed that one of the pillars got washed away a few days ago. They said the bridge was being constructed at a cost of about Rs 3 crore over the Bhutahi river which has been in spate on account of torrential rains in catchment areas of Nepal.

The sources claimed that the district administration has been asked to investigate the matter and submit its report while the contractor concerned has been instructed to get the structure repaired at the earliest. A video of the collapsed bridge, under construction for more than two years, has gone viral.

Leader of the opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Yadav shared the video on X, taking an indirect swipe at the Nitish Kumar government. "Another bridge has collapsed in Bihar. Did you get to know? If not, guess why," said the RJD leader, who is also a former deputy CM.

Last week, one incident each of bridge collapse was reported from the Araria, Siwan and East Champaran districts while a similar mishap took place in Kishanganj on Thursday.

Earlier, an under-construction small bridge collapsed in East Champaran district and the 16-metre-long bridge was being built over a canal by the state's Rural Works Department (RWD) to connect Amwa village to other areas of the block. It was being built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, they added.

"The exact cause of the incident is not yet known. It is a serious matter and a departmental inquiry has been ordered. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty," Additional Chief Secretary of RWD Dipak Kumar Singh told PTI.

"Senior officers of the district administration have reached the spot. A detailed report is awaited," he said. District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal said the exact cause of the incident was being ascertained.

"There are reports that a section of locals initially objected to the construction of certain pillars of the bridge. Police are also looking into this matter," he told PTI. On Saturday, a small bridge collapsed in Siwan district. It was built over a canal, connecting the villages of Daraunda and Maharajganj blocks.

Prior to that, on Tuesday, a newly constructed bridge, about 180 metres long, had collapsed in the Araria district.

*With Agency Inputs