Three Engineers Suspended After Bridge Collapse in Bihar's Gopalganj District
The Rural Works Department (RWD) of Bihar has taken swift action following the collapse of a bridge under construction in Gopalganj district. On Monday, the department suspended three engineers for alleged negligence after a portion of a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) bridge over the Ghoghari river collapsed on Sunday afternoon.
Immediate Suspension and Investigation
The suspension order was issued based on the recommendation of Gopalganj District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Sinha, who inspected the site after the incident. The 29-metre-long bridge, located on Bakhraul Kurmi Tola Path at Gangwa village in Siddhwalia block, collapsed during the casting process. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the collapse.
According to an official RWD statement, the three engineers from Gopalganj work division-2 were suspended with immediate effect on charges of negligence. The suspended officials include Executive Engineer Bhupesh Kumar, Assistant Engineer Jyoti Madhesia, and Junior Engineer Dilip Tiwari.
Contractor Faces Blacklisting
District Magistrate Sinha has also recommended blacklisting the contractor responsible for the project. The bridge, valued at Rs 2.87 crore, was being constructed by Bapudham Construction Company from Motihari. Work on the project began on March 7 last year, with a completion deadline of March 6, 2026.
"Preliminary investigation revealed gross negligence in supervision by the officials," Sinha stated. "I have ordered strict departmental action, suspension and termination of the three engineers." He added that the contractor was being blacklisted for failing to follow quality protocols.
Causes of the Collapse
The collapse has been attributed to multiple factors, including the use of substandard materials and poor supervision. Villagers had raised concerns about weak reinforcement bars and lack of quality checks, warning that such practices could lead to major accidents in the future.
Sinha noted that inadequate soil compaction and weak iron bosses used in centring, which failed to bear the concrete load, were likely causes of the collapse. He also highlighted that the contractor claimed illness, but no representative was present at the site, describing this as "a serious lapse."
Ongoing Investigation and Future Actions
A complete report has been submitted to the RWD, and a high-level probe will be conducted to determine the exact causes of the collapse. Experts have already collected cement and iron-centering samples from the site for further analysis.
"Strict action against the guilty will be ensured," Sinha emphasized, underscoring the government's commitment to accountability in infrastructure projects. The incident has prompted calls for stricter quality control measures in construction projects across the state.
