A section of a bridge over the Dhanauti River in Majhaulia, Bettiah, Bihar, collapsed on June 9, bringing traffic to a complete halt.
The bridge, located in Lal Saraiya Panchayat, connected Bakharia with Karamwa and served as a crucial route for nearly twelve panchayats.
Officials from the Rural Works Department reached the site and erected barricades to stop vehicles from crossing the damaged structure. Technical Supervisor Akash Kumar said the bridge was 35 to 40 years old and required urgent attention. He confirmed that caution boards and barriers were installed to ensure public safety.
Residents reported that the bridge began to weaken a month earlier. A local woman and a biker fell when part of the structure gave way. Locals complained that the collapse disrupted daily travel and halted business activities.
The Bettiah bridge collapse follows similar incidents across Bihar. In May, engineers detected a separation gap in the Bisunpur-Mangalpur Gandak Bridge near the Bettiah-Gopalganj border. Earlier, on May 3, a slab of the Vikramshila Setu over the Ganga River fell near pier number 133, forcing authorities to divert traffic.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected the temporary Bailey bridge at Bhagalpur and announced free transportation for commuters until repairs are finished by November 30. The recurring collapses have raised concerns over the condition of Bihar’s ageing infrastructure and the need for immediate structural audits.
