Bridge Collapses in Bihar: A Wake-Up Call for Infrastructure Resilience

The alarming frequency of bridge collapses in Bihar, India, has raised serious concerns about the safety and resilience of critical infrastructure. Since June, the state has witnessed 15 bridge collapses, the most recent being in Vaishali district, where a 20-year-old brick bridge was swept away by the swollen Ganga River. This incident has cut off vital communication between two panchayats, affecting around 20,000 residents. Such collapses are becoming all too common during extreme weather events, underscoring the urgent need for robust infrastructure capable of withstanding the forces of nature.

Extreme weather events, particularly heavy rainfall, have been a significant factor in the recent spate of bridge collapses across Bihar. The heavy flow of water in rivers like the Ganga has been overwhelming existing structures, leading to their collapse. A notable example is the under-construction bridge in Katihar, where two pillars were washed away by the increased river current. Although no casualties were reported, the incident highlights the vulnerabilities of even newly constructed infrastructure in the face of extreme weather conditions.

These incidents are not isolated; over a dozen bridges have collapsed in Bihar in the last two months alone, prompting the government to suspend 16 engineers and initiate investigations into the failures. The repeated failures of both old and new bridges emphasize the critical importance of conducting thorough structural audits, especially in regions prone to extreme weather.

The safety and reliability of bridges are paramount, particularly in regions like Bihar where they serve as lifelines for rural and urban communities alike. As these recent collapses demonstrate, there is a pressing need for enhanced design and construction practices that account for the increasingly severe impacts of climate change. Regular structural audits, better materials, and more stringent oversight during construction are essential to ensure that bridges can endure extreme weather events without compromising public safety.

Bihar's ongoing bridge troubles serve as a stark reminder that without significant improvements in infrastructure resilience, the risks posed by extreme weather will only continue to grow.