Bridge collapse on Arga River in Jharkhand’s Giridih raises safety concerns

Mail News Service

Giridih, June 30: A bridge built across the Arga river between Dumritola and Kariphari village on the Fatehpur Bhelwaghati road collapsed due to heavy rain, mirroring a recent incident in Bihar. The collapse occurred as the bridge, under construction by the Path Nirman Department, Path Division Giridih and managed by Om Namah Shivay Construction, failed to withstand the first monsoon rains.

Local villagers reported that one pillar bent around 8 o’clock in the evening amidst heavy rainfall. Shortly after, a girder of the under-construction bridge broke and fell into the river with a loud noise, causing alarm among nearby residents.

The bridge, costing Rs 5.50 crore, was crucial for local connectivity and was being constructed to enhance transportation infrastructure in the area. This incident has raised concerns over the quality of construction and adherence to safety standards in infrastructure projects across Jharkhand.

In a similar incident a few years ago, a bridge on the Kanchi River in Bundu block, Ranchi collapsed, affecting connectivity to dozens of villages. An investigation later revealed the use of substandard material in its construction under the Chief Minister Gram Setu Yojna.