Bihar Bridge Collapse: Days after alleging a ‘conspiracy’ behind the collapse of bridges in the state, Union Minister and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has now blamed the monsoon for back-to-back incidents in the state.
Manjhi also defended Nitish Kumar, saying the Bihar CM had instructed officials to take action against those who were negligent.
On June 29, wondering why the bridges were collapsing now and not a month before, Manjhi claimed that these things were being done on purpose to tarnish the image of the government. He had also cliamed that poor-quality materials might have been used in the construction work.
Meanwhile, sixteen engineers have been suspended as 10 bridges collapsed in a span of 15 days.
What Jitan Ram Manjhi said
In a U-turn from what he had said earlier, Manjhi, who is also the head of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), stated that monsoon rains, which are unusually heavy, were the primary cause for the incidents.
— It is monsoon time. There has been an abnormal amount of rain, which is the reason behind the collapse of bridges.
— The Chief Minister of the state (Nitish Kumar) is very sensitive towards the investigation.
16 engineers suspended
According to NDTV, 16 engineers from the water resources department have been suspended.
The contractors responsible for building the bridges will be traced and held to account, the report quoted Bihar Development Secretary Chaitanya Prasad as saying.
Where have bridges collapsed?
— In June month, five bridges collapsed in Araria, Siwan, East Champaran, Kishanganj, and Madhubani districts.
— On July 3, four small bridges collapsed in Saran and Siwan districts.
— On July 4, the 10th incident took place as a small bridge over Gandaki river collapsed in Bihar’s Saran district.
Tejaswhi Yadav slams govt
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has claimed that 12 bridges have collapsed.
“Twelve bridges have collapsed in Bihar since June 18…Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are silent over these incidents in Bihar. What happened to the claims of good governance and a corruption-free government?,” asked Yadav in a post on X.
