Bihar: Another bridge falls prey to corruption; Kauachar bridge, built at a cost of Rs 3.80 crore in Forbesganj, Araria, collapses

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Another bridge in Bihar has fallen victim to corruption. The bridge connecting Kauachar village in the Forbesganj block of Araria district suddenly collapsed on Monday afternoon. Built in 2019 at a cost of approximately ₹3.80 crore (approximately $38 million), the bridge had deteriorated within just three years, prompting traffic to be halted. The collapse of a bridge built at a cost of crores of rupees within three years points to corruption.

Most shockingly, the village of Kauachar, where the bridge collapsed, is the ancestral village of Araria’s BJP MP, Pradeep Kumar Singh. The collapse has disrupted road connectivity between Pategana and Forbesganj, Sikti. Built by the Rural Works Department over the Parman River, the bridge has four spans, with the middle span completely submerged. The collapse of the bridge just before the elections has heated up the election atmosphere in the Forbesganj Assembly constituency. Villagers are alleging numerous irregularities.

Bridges have collapsed before
The collapse of a bridge over the Bakra River in Padriya, Sikti Assembly constituency, had previously garnered national attention. These discussions had barely subsided when another incident occurred. This incident has placed departmental officials and the government in a difficult position amid the Bihar Assembly elections. Previously, on June 18, 2024, a ₹12 crore bridge being built over the Bakra River in Padriya, Sikti block, also collapsed. Both bridges were constructed by the Rural Works Department, Araria, raising questions about the department’s performance.

What did the engineer say?
Regarding this matter, Rural Works Department engineer Chandrashekhar Kumar stated that the department had already received information about the bridge collapse. A letter was sent to the department on October 30, 2025. In light of the situation, the District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) have also been informed to ensure public safety. He added that the contractor’s five-year guarantee period has expired. Nevertheless, the bridge’s age and construction quality will be investigated. Necessary action will be taken against the culprits under departmental orders.