Broken bridge in this district of Bihar, traffic disrupted

Bihar bridge collapse: The Bailey bridge constructed on the important Barnar Causeway, which connects Sono, the headquarters of Jamui block in Bihar, to the western region, was damaged on Monday morning due to heavy rains and strong flow of water in the river. Due to the subsidence of a pillar in the central part of the Bailey bridge, the bridge not only tilted to one side but also sank a little in the centre. After the causeway constructed on the Barnar river between Sono-Churhet was damaged in the same month last year, on the instructions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an iron bridge was immediately constructed over the damaged causeway.

DM directed to carry out the inspection

As soon as the information about the damaged bridge was received, District Officer Abhilasha Sharma, SDM Abhay Tiwari, ADM and all the district and block officials reached the spot, assessed the condition of the damaged bridge and immediately decided to stop the traffic on the bridge for some time. The DM called the engineer and the rest of the technical team and directed them to carry out the inspection. The traffic on the bridge will remain closed until the engineer and his technical team inspect and approve the movement. Even the movement of pedestrians has been banned.

The barricades were made of bamboo at both ends.

The administration has placed bamboo barricades at both ends of the Bailey Bridge, so that people do not cross the bridge. Besides, instructions have also been given for appointment of magistrates. At the spot, the DM also spoke to the inspector who constructed the Bailey Bridge and instructed him to repair the damaged pillar when the speed of the river water decreases.

increasing people’s problems

People here are facing great difficulties due to disruption of traffic on the bridge. Crowds of commuters gathered on both sides of the bridge. A large population on the other side of the river will be affected due to loss of easy connectivity with the block headquarters. However, the administration said that after engineers inspect the damaged pillar, if everything goes well, movement on foot and light vehicles will be started.

The Circle Officer took stock of the situation.

In fact, after continuous rains for the last two to three days, a flood situation occurred in the Barnar River. Due to the high velocity of water, the central pillar of the Bailey Bridge sank and the Bailey Bridge slightly sank while tilting towards the south. As soon as the information was received, Zonal Officer Sumit Kumar Ashish took stock of the condition of the bridge and informed SDM Abhay Tiwari about the situation. The SDM immediately reached the said Sono Bridge and as a precautionary measure, he first ordered to stop the traffic through the bridge.

Officials arrived near the bridge

He remained at the spot with the CO for hours. Meanwhile, BDO Mohd Moinuddin, the police inspector in charge of Jhajha police station and circle, Santosh Kumar, and many other police officers had reached the bridge. Here, people commuting to work throughout the day demanded minimum movement on foot.

Uncles, aunts and grandmothers should not cross the bridge, it may be dangerous.

Last year, in the month of September, the pillar of the flyover bridge built over the Barnar river, which is called the lifeline of the people of the block, was damaged. Due to the excavation of sand around the pillar, the base of the pillar weakened and the pillar collapsed, due to which the roadway also collapsed, affecting the movement of people in the western area of ​​the block. After receiving information about the critical situation, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself reached the Barnar river and after inspecting the damaged bridge, he ordered the construction of a bailey bridge over the damaged roadway. Soon he also announced the construction of a new bridge parallel to it.

Questions were raised about the quality of construction.

Following the instructions of the Chief Minister, the Bailey Bridge was constructed within two and a half months, due to which there was happiness among the people, but this Bailey Bridge, constructed at a cost of about seven and a half crore rupees, could not even celebrate the first anniversary of its construction and within a year it was damaged. People are questioning the quality of construction and alleging negligence and irregularities in the construction of its foundation.

Nearly 1.5 lakh people will be affected due to traffic disruption on the damaged bridge.

In view of the continuous rains, the swollen river and the collapse of the bridge due to damaged pillars, the administration has banned traffic on the bridge with immediate effect. Barricades have been erected and police and magistrates have been pressed into service, so that there is no loss of life and property and no accident. But due to the closure of traffic, the life of half of the population of the block will come to a standstill.

You will have to travel a distance of 15 more kilometers

This bridge is very important for the people of about a dozen and a half panchayats of Sono and Khaira blocks. The direct contact of 1.5 lakh population of half a dozen panchayats of Khaira block, including Keshofarka, Thamhan, Sarebad, Chhuchhunaria, Rajoun, Maheshwari and Lalelewar, has been cut off from the Sono block headquarters. They will now have to travel a distance of 15 kilometres again to reach the block headquarters.

From when the children go to school to taking the patient to the hospital.

On the other hand, the damage to the bridge will also affect the market. Due to the traffic being cut off, a population of 1.5 lakh will be affected in one way or the other. The people of the nearby village, situated on the other bank of the river and their only means of movement, are facing a lot of difficulties. All important tasks, from children going to school to taking patients to the hospital, will be disrupted.

The Bailey Bridge was built at a cost of seven and a half million rupees, and the foundation itself was weak.

In November last year, the construction of the Iron Bailey bridge on the damaged causeway of the Barnar river cost around Rs 7.5 crore. It was constructed by two construction companies. The work of the base structure was done by a company called Shri Ram Mahavir and the work of the iron bridge was done by another company.

Administrative approval for construction was not even received.

The situation is such that, if the contractor of a company is to be believed, he managed to get the construction work done by verbal orders, but almost a year has passed, let alone payment, not even administrative approval for the construction has been received. Due to the haste and irregularities in the construction of the foundation during the construction of the Bailey bridge, this situation has reached the present day. By repairing the pillar supporting the foundation of the old road and building a structure on it, a Bailey bridge was made, the foundation of which was designed to withstand the strong flow of water that rose during a rainy season.

Hundreds of people gathered on the bridge on Monday

Hundreds of people gathered on the bridge on Monday after receiving information that the bridge was damaged. The administration was finding it difficult to convince them. Many passersby wanted to leave saying it was necessary. SDM Abhay Kumar Tiwari and CO Sumit Kumar Ashish appealed to remove people from the bridge. While stopping women passing by the bridge, the CO lovingly explained to the grandmother and aunt that it is dangerous to cross the bridge. So turn around now and go.

DM arrived in the rain, inspected the damaged bridge with an umbrella

Despite continuous rain on Monday, DM Abhilasha Sharma reached Sono to inspect the bridge. She said that she reached here after receiving information about the damage to the bridge. With an umbrella, she inspected the damaged bridge in the rain and gave necessary instructions.

traffic stop instructions

For the time being, instructions have been given to stop traffic on the bridge and call the technical team from the bridge construction department. The team will provide information on the inspection of the bridge. Afterwards, a decision will be made on traffic on the bridge. There is also a proposal for a new bridge parallel to the bridge. The budget is ready. It has been sent to the government for approval. The new bridge will be built as soon as it gets the government’s approval.

During the inspection of the damaged road, the Chief Minister gave instructions for the construction of the bridge.

Last year, after receiving information that the causeway was damaged, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reached Sono along with his cabinet colleagues and a team of engineers and departmental officials to inspect the bridge on September 27, 2023. During the inspection, the Chief Minister also assured the people that a high-level RCC bridge parallel to the causeway would soon be constructed.