Partial collapse of Ganga bridge in Bihar’s Bhagalpur triggers safety probe

A portion of the National Highway-31 (NH-31) bridge over the Ganga River in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district collapsed on Wednesday, prompting an immediate safety review and traffic diversions. The incident occurred around 8:30 am, when a 50-metre section of the bridge gave way, sending debris into the river below. No casualties have been reported so far, and initial assessments suggest the collapse may have been triggered by structural fatigue or heavy vehicular load.

District Magistrate Mr. Sanjay Kumar confirmed the collapse and stated that a high-level probe has been ordered to determine the exact cause. “We are assessing the damage and have initiated an investigation to understand what led to this failure,” Kumar said. The bridge, a vital link between Bhagalpur and surrounding areas, has been closed to vehicular traffic, forcing authorities to reroute traffic through alternate routes via nearby bridges.

Local residents and commuters expressed shock over the sudden collapse, with many recalling instances of waterlogging and cracks on the bridge in recent months. The NH-31 bridge is a key infrastructure asset connecting northern and eastern Bihar, and its closure is expected to cause significant disruption to daily commutes and freight movement.