Vikramshila Bridge Collapses into Ganges; Bihar Government Seeks Army Help

Patna (IANS): A 33-meter section of the Vikramshila Setu in Bhagalpur collapsed into the Ganges River early Monday morning. The Bihar government has initiated emergency repairs and administrative penalties. The structural failure occurred near Pillar number 133 of the 4.7-km-long bridge at approximately 12:50 A.M.

Emergency Measures and Military Assistance

• Army Intervention: Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior military leadership to seek Indian Army assistance in expediting the restoration of the bridge.
• Administrative Action: The state’s Road Construction Department suspended an Executive Engineer on charges of negligence following the collapse.
• Traffic Suspension: Bhagalpur District Magistrate Naval Kishore Chaudhary halted all vehicular movement across the bridge and installed barricades at both ends to ensure public safety.
• Safety Precautions: Authorities successfully moved several vehicles to safety just before the collapse, averting a major tragedy.

Impact on Regional Connectivity

• Critical Lifeline: The bridge serves as a vital link between north and south Bihar.
• Massive Disruption: The collapse affects the daily movement of nearly 1 lakh people across 16 districts, including the Seemanchal region and Jharkhand.
• Technical Inspection: A team of technical experts has arrived to inspect the structural damage and evaluate the failure.

Scrutiny of Construction Quality

The incident has triggered serious concerns regarding infrastructure oversight in the state. The Vikramshila Setu has undergone three rounds of repairs over the last decade, with the most recent maintenance completed only two months ago in March 2026. The recurrence of such damage, despite recent work, has intensified scrutiny over long-term maintenance practices and construction quality.