An under-construction bridge in India has experienced its second collapse in a year: no fatalities

The collapse of a section of an under-construction bridge over the Ganges River has prompted an investigation by the government of an Indian state. This incident marks the second collapse of the structure within a year. Fortunately, there were no fatalities as there were no people or vehicles on the bridge when around 250 meters (820 feet) of the concrete surface connecting the pillars fell into the river on Sunday. The collapse was captured on videos that quickly circulated on social media platforms.

India has grappled with safety concerns in its infrastructure for a considerable time, which has occasionally resulted in major accidents on highways and bridges. To minimize costs, builders often employ substandard construction materials, raising doubts about the safety and durability of such structures.

The construction of this 3.6-kilometer (1.9-mile) long bridge began in 2014 but experienced delays. Its inauguration, connecting the towns of Bhagalpur and Khagaria, was planned for later this year. The bridge, with a cost of 17 billion rupees ($208 million), was being built by a private company.

In response to the incident, Nitish Kumar, the top elected official of Bihar state, stated that those responsible for the collapse will face consequences. It is noteworthy that a portion of the bridge on the opposite side had collapsed in April of the previous year.

The bridge collapse drew criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the opposition party in the state. The ruling regional party in Bihar, the Janata Dal-United (People's Party), is led by Nitish Kumar. The BJP spokesperson, Shehzad Poonwalla, referred to the bridge as "the bridge of corruption."