A section of the Vikramshila Setu bridge in Bhagalpur, Bihar, collapsed into the Ganga River on Monday [1].
The incident disrupts a critical transport link between Bhagalpur and Naugachia, potentially affecting regional commerce and commuter transit in the area.
Officials said that a massive slab of the bridge gave way near pillar 133 [1]. The collapse was attributed to a structural failure at that specific pillar, which caused the slab to fall into the river [1, 2].
Despite the scale of the collapse, no casualties were reported [2]. Authorities said that zero vehicles were involved in the incident at the time the structure failed [2].
Traffic between the two regions has been halted as a result of the partial collapse [1, 2]. Emergency teams and officials are currently managing the site to prevent further deterioration of the remaining structure.
The Vikramshila Setu serves as a vital artery for the region, spanning the Ganga River to connect key districts. The sudden failure of a primary support pillar raises questions regarding the maintenance and structural integrity of the bridge's aging infrastructure.
Local authorities are coordinating the closure of the bridge to ensure public safety while engineers assess the damage at pillar 133 [1].
“A massive slab of the bridge near pillar 133 collapsed into the Ganga River”
The collapse of a major structural component on the Vikramshila Setu highlights the vulnerability of critical transit infrastructure in Bihar. Because the bridge is a primary link between Bhagalpur and Naugachia, the halt in traffic will likely cause significant logistical delays and economic disruption until a permanent repair is implemented.
