Bihar RWD suspends 3 engineers after Rs 2.87 crore bridge collapses in Gopalganj

PATNA: Rural works department (RWD) on Monday suspended three engineers for alleged negligence after a portion of a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) bridge under construction over the Ghoghari river in Gopalganj district collapsed on Sunday afternoon. The incident, attributed to use of substandard materials and poor supervision, prompted the district magistrate to recommend strict action and blacklisting of the contractor.

The suspension order was issued based on the recommendation of Gopalganj DM Pawan Kumar Sinha. The 29-metre-long bridge on Bakhraul Kurmi Tola Path at Gangwa village in Siddhwalia block had collapsed during casting, though no casualties were reported.


DM Sinha, who inspected the site after the collapse, recommended departmental action against executive engineer (EE) Bhupesh Kumar, assistant engineer (AE) Jyoti Madhesia and junior engineer (JE) Dilip Tiwari for gross negligence. He also sought blacklisting of Bapudham Construction, Motihari, the agency executing the project. The bridge, worth Rs2.87 crore, was being built by Bapudham Construction Company. Work began on March 7 last year, and its completion deadline was March 6, 2026, he said.

According to an RWD statement, the three engineers of Gopalganj work division-2 were suspended with immediate effect on charges of negligence. Meanwhile, action is also being taken against the contractor, Babul Kumar, engaged in the construction of the bridge.

Villagers alleged use of substandard materials and weak reinforcement bars, claiming that lack of quality checks could lead to major accidents in the future. “Preliminary investigation revealed gross negligence in supervision by the officials. I have ordered strict departmental action, suspension and termination of the three engineers,” Sinha said, adding the contractor was blacklisted for failing to follow quality protocols.

Sinha noted that inadequate soil compaction and weak iron bosses used in centring, which failed to bear the concrete load, were likely causes of the collapse. He added that the contractor claimed illness, but no representative was present at the site, which was “a serious lapse.”

“A complete report has been sent to the RWD. A high-level probe will be conducted. Experts have collected cement and iron-centering samples from the site. Strict action against the guilty will be ensured,” he said.