PATNA/BHAGALPUR, May 5 -- A critical span of Vikramshila Setu over the Ganga in Bhagalpur gave way early Monday, sending a roughly 25-metre section of the bridge deck crashing into the river. The collapse, reported around 12:35 am near one of the central pillars, has snapped direct road connectivity between northern and southern Bihar, dealing a fresh blow to an already strained transport network in the Seemanchal region. No lives were lost and no vehicles were damaged on the affected portion when the structure failed owing to swift action by local police and administration. Officials moved quickly after spotting signs of distress, clearing traffic and averting what could have been a major tragedy on a bridge that carries heavy commercial and passenger movement even at night. District magistrate (DM) Dr Naval Kishor Choudhary and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Pramod Kumar Yadav said that the movement on the bridge has been closed and the connectivity between Bhagalpur and North Bihar has been severed. Yadav said, "The bridge has been sealed and traffic has been diverted." Meanwhile, the DM added, "A probe has been ordered." Prior warnings 'ignored' as traffic rolled on Former Bhagalpur MLA Ajeet Sharma said, "The disaster did not come without warning. Concerns about the bridge's health had surfaced as recently as March when strong river currents damaged protective false walls and jacket rings around some pillars." Despite public alarm and calls for a thorough structural audit, authorities had declared the main structure 'safe' after inspections and allowed normal traffic to continue. A month ago, officials received reports of 'minor problems' on the bridge. Teams from the road construction department (RCD) and Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) were dispatched, and advice was sought from IIT Patna. "Yet routine traffic, including heavy vehicles, kept flowing while only minor repairs were planned. This pattern of patching up rather than addressing deeper structural fatigue has now come under sharp scrutiny," admitted a RCD official in Bhagalpur. Administration hailed for 'last-minute alertness' Bhagalpur traffic police reached the spot after noticing the span sinking. They cleared the bridge before the section collapsed into the Ganga. BRPNNL chairman Chandrashekhar Singh talking to mediapersons in Patna praised the district and police administration's promptness, noting that the bridge witnesses heavy rush round the clock and the outcome could have been far worse. However, executive engineer Saket Kumar Roushan of RCD's NH division in Bhagalpur, responsible for the maintenance of the bridge, has been suspended. A team of senior engineers, including the RCD chief engineer, is at the site to assess damage and prepare restoration plans. IIT Patna has once again been roped in for technical guidance. Repair timeline and diversions announced The BRPNNL chairman said the damaged portion would be rebuilt within 'three months' as per recommendations of the technical team. He added that the pillar itself remains intact. Meanwhile, traffic has been diverted on both ends. Vehicles from the west are being routed through the Sri Krishna Singh bridge at Munger, about 100 km west from Vikramshila Setu, while those from the east are redirected via Khagaria. The diversions are expected to cause significant delays, raise transport costs and put extra pressure on alternative routes already handling heavy loads. Trade and daily commuters between Bhagalpur, Purnia, Katihar and other areas will bear the immediate brunt. Light vehicles may also use steamer services temporarily. CM seeks centre's help; parallel bridge to open next year Chief minister Samrat Choudhary, who was in Delhi when the incident happened, spoke to defence minister Rajnath Singh, seeking cooperation from the border roads organisation (BRO) and the Indian Army for early restoration of the damaged section. The Vikramshila Setu, built by UP Bridge Corporation and opened to traffic in 2001, has long been the lifeline connecting NH-33 and NH-31. Over the years, it has shouldered far more load than originally designed for, leading to repeated repairs. A new four-lane parallel bridge, whose foundation was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2020 at a cost of around Rs.1,110 crore, is now slated to become operational by December. Questions linger over long-term infrastructure neglect The disaster once again highlighted the vulnerability of ageing bridges in flood-prone Bihar. The under-construction Aguanighat-Sultanganj bridge across the river Ganga, which is located about 30 km upstream from Vikramshila Setu, had caved in multiple times owing to structural and materials' inconsistency. Three spans of the bridge had collapsed in the river's midstream in August 2024. The government had then suspended a couple of engineers and shifted them, but no accountability was fixed. "The officials of RCD often talk about quick fixes and building new structures to replace the aging ones, but the recent episode raises uncomfortable questions about maintenance standards, timely intervention and accountability when warning signs first appeared," said Asit Nath Tiwari, a Congress leader. With this collapse, the vital link of Bhagalpur with northeast states has been snapped. People in Seemanchal and Kosi have demanded the Railways to step in to restore traffic. "We want Railways to start regular trains from Saharsa and Katihar via Sahebpur Kamal bridge to restore traffic to people living in Kosi and Seemanchal districts," said Saharsa-based social activist Amit Anand, adding "A large number of people from eight districts of Kosi and Seemanchal visit Bhagalpur regularly."...