Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim
Video Producer: Hera Khan
The Bihar government on Thursday, 16 July, denied reports that a portion of the Sattarghat bridge on the Gandak River near Gopalganj – reportedly inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in June – collapsed on Wednesday, 15 July, after the water flow increased in the river due to heavy rainfall.
Bihar Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav claimed that no damages have been caused to any bridge. “The approach slab that has collapsed is 2 km away from the main Sattarghat Bridge... Just the approach slab of a minor bridge has collapsed,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.
The state has been witnessing heavy rains over the last few days, with flooding reported in several areas.
Tejashwi Yadav Takes a Dig at Nitish Kumar
However, Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav had been quick to take a dig at Nitish Kumar over the incident on Wednesday. "A bridge built with Rs 263 crores in eight years collapsed in just 29 days. The 'Bhishma Pitamah' of organised corruption Nitish ji will not speak a word on this... There's a loot happening all over Bihar," the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader said on Twitter.
According to NDTV, the Sattarghat bridge, 1.4 km-long and linking the Gopalganj and East Champaran districts, was opened to the public on 16 June.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)