A Bailey bridge was damaged in Jamui.
A Bailey bridge was damaged in Jamui.
Patna, September 16: A Bailey bridge made of iron on the Banwar River was damaged in Bihar’s Jamui district on Monday.
The deterioration of the bridge appeared within one year after being opened to the public in October last year. Two pillars of the bridge had sunk into the soil which led to the structure weakening.
Due to safety concerns, the district administration has halted all traffic on the bridge and directed villagers to use alternate routes. The bridge is located under the jurisdiction of the Sono block in the district.
Following the incident, Jamui District Magistrate Abhilasha Sharma inspected the Bailey bridge and confirmed that a portion of it was damaged.
“We have inspected the bridge and declared it dangerous for the public. We have asked people to avoid using this bridge. The district administration has directed a technical team to visit the site and submit the report,” Sharma said.
She added, “Based on the report of the technical team, we will decide the next course of action.”
The immediate closure of the bridge highlights the urgency of addressing the structural issues to ensure the safety of the residents.
Meanwhile, the local villagers attributed the deterioration of the bridge to rampant sand mining which takes place during the summer and winter sessions. During the monsoon session, rising water levels in the Banwar River add to the risk. In the last few days, heavy rain witnessed in the area, caused a strong flow in the river, contributing to the bridge’s damage.
As a result, 10 Panchayats of Sono block and 8 Panchayats of Khaira block completely cut off from the block headquarters. This situation particularly concerning for residents, as health centres are located on the opposite side of the damaged bridge.
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The bridge over the Banwar River had previously been damaged in the first quarter of 2023. Following that incident, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inspected the site and directed the construction of Bailey Bridge to replace the damaged structure. This new bridge was inaugurated in October 2023.
EOM.