Bihar News: Vikramsheela Bridge Collapse: Span Falls into Ganga in Bhagalpur, No Casualties Reported

A portion of the Vikramshila Bridge in Bhagalpur collapsed into the Ganga, but rapid police and district action prevented casualties. A three-month reconstruction plan is in place, with traffic diverted and a technical team advising on repairs. BRO and the Indian Army may assist, while a parallel four-lane bridge progresses.

A portion of the Vikramshila Bridge in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district collapsed into the river Ganga late Sunday night. However, prompt action by the district and police administration averted a major tragedy, with no loss of life or property reported.

Chairman of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL), Chandrashekhar Singh, stated on Monday that the damaged portion of the bridge will be reconstructed within three months. He added that traffic has been diverted on both sides as an immediate precautionary measure.

The bridge, which connects Bhagalpur with the Seemanchal region, was constructed by UP Bridge Corporation and has been operational since 2001. According to officials, the incident occurred around 12:35 am on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday when a span of the bridge began sinking before eventually collapsing into the Ganga.

"Traffic police quickly reached the spot and cleared vehicles from the bridge. Shortly after, the affected span caved in. Due to the administration’s alertness, no casualties or damage were reported," Singh said while addressing reporters at the IPRD conference hall.

He commended the Bhagalpur district administration and police for their swift response, noting that the bridge usually experiences heavy traffic and the situation could have escalated into a major disaster. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking assistance from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Indian Army to restore the damaged section at the earliest.

Officials clarified that while one span of the bridge has collapsed, the pillars remain intact. Reconstruction will be carried out based on the recommendations of a technical team that has been dispatched to the site. Meanwhile, a parallel four-lane bridge to Vikramsheela is under construction to handle increasing traffic pressure and is expected to be operational by December this year.

Following the incident, traffic has been rerouted. Vehicles from the western side are being diverted via the Sri Krishna Singh Bridge in Munger, while those from the eastern side are being redirected towards Khagaria. Arrangements are also being made to facilitate the movement of light vehicles via steamers.

In a disciplinary action, the Executive Engineer in Bhagalpur responsible for the bridge’s maintenance has been suspended. Officials revealed that minor issues with the bridge had been reported about a month ago, prompting inspections by teams from the Road Construction Department and BRPNNL, along with technical consultation from IIT Patna. Preliminary findings had indicated that while the main structure was intact, there was damage to protective "false walls."

A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for maintenance is currently under approval. Fresh teams have been sent to the site, and IIT Patna has again been tasked with suggesting measures for the swift restoration of the bridge.