A span of Vikramshila Setu collapsed in Bhagalpur .
By A CorrespondentÂ
Patna: A review meeting was held at 5, Deshratna Marg under the chairmanship of Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to assess the damage to a span of Vikramshila Setu and the action being taken in response. The Chief Minister issued necessary directions to officials during the meeting.
Secretary of the Road Construction Department, Pankaj Kumar Pal, provided a detailed briefing on the current status of Vikramshila Setu and the measures underway. He informed that information regarding damage to a portion of the bridge was received around midnight on 3 May. Due to the prompt response of the district administration, police and traffic police, no loss of life or property was reported.
To investigate the cause of the incident, a team led by the Engineer-in-Chief (Works Management), along with the Managing Director of Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited and experts from IIT Patna and NIT Patna, was dispatched to Bhagalpur this morning. The team will examine the reasons behind the damage and submit a report. Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer, National Highways, Bhagalpur, has been suspended over allegations of negligence in maintenance.
As an immediate relief measure, the state government is set to launch free steamer services shortly for pedestrians and two-wheelers crossing the Ganga river, to minimise inconvenience to the public. Engineers have also been instructed to act promptly upon receiving the expert report to repair the damaged section and restore traffic at the earliest. An SDRF team has reached the site and is assisting in managing the situation. The bridge connects Naugachia and Bhagalpur.
Bhagalpur District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Chaudhary provided an update on the situation via video conferencing.
During the review, Samrat Choudhary reiterated that the incident occurred around midnight on May 3 and praised the swift action taken by the district and police administration in Bhagalpur, which prevented any casualties. He directed officials to maintain constant vigilance and ensure that the administration remains fully active to avoid inconvenience to the public.
He further instructed that alternative transport arrangements be ensured without delay in view of the damage to Vikramshila Setu. Technical reports from experts should be obtained to facilitate restoration work at the earliest. At present, vehicles from North Bihar can reach Bhagalpur via Shri Krishna Setu in Munger and National Highway-33 (old NH-80). He directed that traffic on the Munger–Bhagalpur route be streamlined to ensure smooth movement and that the ongoing four-lane construction work on this stretch be completed on time.
The Samrat Choudhary also emphasised that all major bridges in the state must be audited under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for bridge maintenance. He warned that negligence in maintenance would not be tolerated and that strict action should be taken against those found derelict in their duties. He directed that construction of the parallel four-lane bridge over the Ganga be expedited. Security arrangements on both sides of the bridge at Bhagalpur and Naugachia must be strengthened, with vehicular entry restricted. Adequate lighting should be ensured, and SOPs must be strictly followed for boat operations, with special attention to passenger safety.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Deputy Chief Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Chief Secretary Shri Pratyay Amrit, Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal, Secretary to the Chief Minister Kumar Ravi, Special Officer on Duty to the Chief Minister Gopal Singh, Commercial Taxes Department Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Chairman of Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Dr Chandrashekhar Singh, representatives of NHAI and other senior officials. Bhagalpur District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Chaudhary and Senior Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar Yadav joined via video conferencing.
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