BIHAR BRIDGE COLLAPSE TRAGEDY

Tragedy struck Bihar's Supaul district today as an under-construction bridge collapsed, claiming the life of one worker and leaving eight others injured. District magistrate Kaushal Kumar confirmed the incident, stating that rescue efforts are currently underway at the site.

Reports suggest that over 40 laborers were on-site when three pillars of the bridge collapsed early this morning, around 7:30 am. As of now, nine individuals have been successfully rescued from the debris, but authorities fear there may be more casualties.

The under-construction bridge, spanning 10.2 kilometers over the Kosi river and linking Supaul and Madhubani districts, is touted to be the longest in the country. It is a project commissioned by the National Highways Authority of India and executed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Gammon India and Trans Rail Lighting Limited are the two companies tasked with its construction, with a total estimated cost of nearly 984 crore rupees.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of this tragic incident, as authorities continue their efforts to ensure the safety of workers and prevent further casualties. This is the second such incident to have hit the state, the pervious one being the total loss of a bridge worth over 1,700 crores.