Patna. Incidents of bridge collapse are being witnessed every day in Bihar. In the latest case, the bridge built at Pardia Ghat at a cost of Rs 12 crore on the Bakra river passing through Sikti block of Araria collapsed. After the collapse of another bridge in Bihar, the political temperature in the state has also increased. The opposition is cornering the Nitish government on this pretext. On the other hand, the Bihar government, in view of the opposition’s allegations regarding the collapse of the bridge, has started trying to calm the matter by taking immediate action against the responsible people. After the bridge collapsed, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has also shared a post.
Bihar government’s Rural Works Minister Ashok Chaudhary took this matter seriously and took major action against the culprits of the bridge collapse. Ashok Chaudhary said that information was received that the bridge under construction on Bakra river in Chainage 33-20 km of the last border of Zakirparas from T.05 Nepal Border Jhala Chowk under Rural Works Department, Works Division, Araria in Sikta block of Araria district has been damaged. Ashok Chaudhary said that as soon as the information of the incident was received, the Rural Works Department took the matter seriously and suspended the then Assistant Engineer Anjani Kumar who was also in charge of Executive Engineer and Junior Engineer Manish Kumar with immediate effect.
Action on engineer and contractor
On the other hand, Ashok Chaudhary said that an FIR has been lodged against the contractor of the under-construction bridge, Sirajur Rahman, and action has been directed to put him in the black list. In view of the seriousness of the matter, a 4-member high-level investigation team has been formed under the chairmanship of Chief Engineer Purnia on the instructions of Minister Ashok Chaudhary. The minister has directed the investigation team to conduct a detailed investigation of the depth of the foundation of the said bridge, the quantity and quality of the materials used in the foundation, substructure and superstructure, and the workmanship of the work done and provide the report of the investigation within 7 days.
Nitin Gadkari also shared this post
Minister Ashok Chaudhary has said that after investigation, if found guilty at any level, strict punitive action will be taken against all the involved persons including those officials and employees. Also, if needed, an FIR will also be registered. On the collapse of this bridge, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also posted on X and wrote that the construction of the culvert that crashed in Araria, Bihar was not done under the Union Road Transport Ministry. Its work was going on under the Rural Development Ministry of Bihar Government. Actually, on the collapse of this bridge in Bihar, the opposition was targeting the double engine government, after which the Bihar to Central Government have tried to clarify their position.
Tags: Bihar News, Bridge Collapse, PATNA NEWS
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 19, 2024, 10:12 IST