Vikramshila Setu Collapse: Bihar Seeks Army Help, Engineer Suspended

A portion of the Vikramshila Setu over the Ganga river in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district collapsed late Sunday night, triggering a probe ordered by authorities and bringing traffic on the key bridge to a complete halt.

Officials said a 25-metre slab section collapse occurred near pillar number 133 around 12:50–1:10 am, with the segment falling into the river. The bridge, which carries NH-131A connectivity , was immediately sealed after engineers detected a gap between slabs.

No casualties were reported as prompt evacuation of vehicles and pedestrians prevented any tragedy. The 4.7-km bridge linking Bhagalpur and Naugachhia has since remained shut, causing major disruption across north and south Bihar connectivity.

Authorities have deployed boats and steamers for river crossing , while traffic has been diverted via Munger, significantly increasing travel time for commuters. Senior officials, including the district administration and police, rushed to the site soon after the incident.

Bhagalpur DM Nawal Kishor Choudhary said an expert engineering committee constituted will examine the cause of failure, including possible issues related to scouring near pillars and slab joint weakness . Preliminary assessment suggests structural stress near pier 133.

The Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation said coordination is underway with central agencies, including Army and BRO assistance , to manage emergency movement. A repair target of three months has been set, while a parallel four-lane bridge under construction is expected to ease pressure on the corridor.

Officials also acknowledged that earlier inspections had flagged deterioration of protection walls and false structural elements , which were under review for maintenance approval.