Vikramshila Bridge partially collapses into Ganga in Bihar’s Bhagalpur; traffic halted

A section of the Vikramshila Bridge spanning the Ganga in Bihar’s Bhagalpur gave way late Sunday night, forcing authorities to suspend movement and divert traffic on both sides. Officials confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were reported.

The bridge, a crucial arterial link connecting Bhagalpur and adjoining districts with the Seemanchal and Kosi regions, has long served as a key route for commuters and goods transport across eastern Bihar.

District Magistrate Nawal Kishore Choudhary said the incident unfolded in two stages. Initial structural distress was detected near pillar number 133 around 11:55 p.m., followed by the collapse of a full span at approximately 1:07 a.m., effectively splitting the 4.7-kilometer structure.

Authorities said prior alerts helped prevent casualties. Traffic from Bhagalpur has been rerouted toward Munger, while vehicles from the opposite end are being diverted via Khagaria.

Senior police officials, including Bhagalpur SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav and Navgachhia SP Rajesh Kumar, reached the site soon after the incident and supervised emergency response and traffic management.

The state government has been informed, and a high-level technical team is expected to inspect the site. Officials indicated that a comprehensive structural audit of the bridge, including all spans and pillars, will be conducted to assess damage and determine further action.

Concerns over the bridge’s condition had surfaced earlier this year. In March, reports of visible wear and structural stress prompted local authorities to reassure the public about its safety.

The bridge, inaugurated in 2001 during the tenure of Rabri Devi, is maintained by the National Highway wing of the Bihar Road Construction Department and the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited.

The incident has reignited concerns over infrastructure upkeep in the state, coming amid a series of bridge failures reported across Bihar in recent years. Authorities are expected to investigate possible lapses in maintenance and monitoring.