A major infrastructure fiasco unfolded in Bihar when Vikramshila Setu, the crucial connector between Bhagalpur and northern districts, partially collapsed into the Ganga late Sunday. The mishap has ignited a fierce political battle, with RJD and Congress accusing the ruling NDA of fostering a culture of corruption that endangers lives.
Taking to social media, RJD’s national executive president Tejashwi Yadav lambasted the government, sharing images of the damaged span. ‘The corrupt NDA’s gift: Vikramshila Bridge takes a dip in Ganga,’ he wrote, pointing to over 100 bridge failures in two years as proof of Bihar topping corruption charts.
He revealed prior alerts to authorities about the bridge’s fragility, ignored in a bid to shield corrupt practices. Divine intervention spared commuters when the slab fell, with no casualties reported despite vehicles present. The collapse at pillar 133 prompted quick traffic suspension.
Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram called it a blatant failure of governance. ‘This is the result of criminal neglect and widespread graft,’ he stated. Built at enormous cost, the bridge’s role in linking Seemanchal and Koshi is indispensable, yet maintenance lapsed catastrophically.
Ram insisted on rigorous investigations and strict action against the guilty, from bureaucrats to builders. He stressed urgent restoration to mitigate disruption for everyday travelers. This incident lays bare systemic rot in public works, fueling demands for accountability in Bihar’s beleaguered infrastructure sector.
