Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, June 24
Within three weeks of Khagaria-Sultanganj Ganga river bridge collapse, another under construction bridge on Mechi river, 400 kms north west from here caved in on Saturday morning.
The under construction bridge is being constructed by National Highway Authority of India to link Kishanganj with Siliguri in West Bengal.
The Project director of the NHAI, Arwind Kumar on Saturday said the under construction bridge to widen the NH 327 E to six lanes caved in this morning. Fortunately, there was no casualty. He said a five members team of experts have been asked to investigate the cause of the bridge collapse.
Mechi river, a tributary of Mahananda river originates from Mahabharat ranges in Nepal and after flowing from Araria, Kishnganj and Katihar the river enters Malda in West Bengal. According to Kumar, the Rs 1500 crore under construction bridge is being constructed by a private engineering company.
Preliminary investigations revealed heavy rains for the last two days in Kosi belt had damaged the foundation of the pillars.
Bihar Engineering Service Association, an organisation of engineers today demanded structural audit of all under construction and already constructed bridges in Bihar.
On June 4, the Rs 1750 crore under construction river bridge on Ganga linking Khagaria with Sultanganj had caved in. Patna High Court on June 21 ordered an inquiry into the bridge collapse and state government has decided to reconstruct the bridge afresh.
