Read Time: 04 minutes

Synopsis

A Public Interest Litigation plea has been filed before the Patna High Court seeking an independent investigation into the collapse of the under-construction four-lane Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge built over the Ganga river in Bhagalpur, Bihar which occurred on Sunday.

The bridge connects Aguwani Ghat and Sultanganj of Bhagalpur District over the Ganga River having length of around 3.160 km.

According to The Print, Advocate Manibhushan Pratap Sengar filed the petition, which demanded an independent investigation rather than a departmental investigation and action against SP Singla Company, which was engaged with the construction of the bridge.

Through his PIL, advocate Sengar also sought the recovery of losses of crores to the exchequer due to the collapse of the bridge.

Reports stated that after the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapsed, Tej Pratap Yadav, a minister and leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the damages caused in Bihar because of the incident and for political tensions surrounding the bridge's collapse.

BJP member Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded an audit of all Bihar bridges under construction.

Ravi Shankar Prasad also said, “This is the second time the bridge has collapsed; this is a conspiracy. What was done when the first time the bridge collapsed, and what actions were taken against the corporation that built the bridge?”

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also ordered a probe into the matter. He requested the officials to identify those who are responsible for the incident for “poor construction work” of the under-construction bridge over River Ganga.

"The bridge that collapsed yesterday had also collapsed the previous year. I have instructed the relevant authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly. It is repeatedly collapsing because it is being improperly constructed. The department will investigate, and I have instructed officials to visit the site and take action," said CM Nitish Kumar.