Bhagalpur’s Vikramshila bridge collapse: Major scare as video shows 25-metre slab of bridge collapsing into Ganga, all traffic halted

A video showing a portion of Vikramshila Setu in Bihar's Bhagalpur collapsed on late Sunday night, a vital link in the state. The structure, already burdened by a heavy traffic, collapsed at around 1.10 am, prompting authorities to shut down the bridge and halt all traffic between Bhagalpur and Naugachhia.

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Portion of Vikramshila Setu bridge collapses

According to officials, the incident occurred at around 1 am when a large slab near pillar number 133 gave away and a sudden gap in the roadway was created, causing immediate panic in the area.

How the collapse happened

At around 11.30 pm on Sunday night, the observers noticed that pillar number 133 had started to sink into the riverbed. The situation worsened rapidly and by 11:55 PM, the pillar was tilting at a dangerous angle. Traffic personnel stationed on the bridge responded quickly after noticing the crack, alerting senior officials and immediately stopping vehicles from entering the affected stretch.

Witnesses said several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, but were swiftly moved away from the danger zone moments before the slab collapsed into the river. Officials said the prompt response helped prevent a potentially major accident.

Bhagalpur Range IG Vivek Kumar, alongside SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav and Navgachhiya SP Rajesh Kumar, quickly swung into action and suspended all vehicular movement. The bridge was successfully evacuated just over an hour before the final collapse at 1:10 AM.

What Bhagalpur DM said

"Around 12:35 in the night, a slab started sinking near pillar number 133. Due to the presence of mind of our local officer and SHO, people were evacuated from there. As soon as people were evacuated, within 15 minutes, a slab fell into the river Ganga. There was no vehicle on that slab. The bridge has been sealed from the Bhagalpur and Navgachhia sides. Traffic has been stopped. We cannot start the alternative route at night. Those who want to come to Bhagalpur can come from the Munger side. We are looking for an alternative arrangement," DM Naval Kishore Choudhary told Republic TV.

Traffic diverted quickly

Following the collapse, authorities sealed the bridge from both ends and erected barricades to prevent movement. District magistrate Naval Kishore Chaudhary confirmed that traffic has been completely prohibited on the structure and advised commuters to use alternative routes. Police said vehicles are being diverted via Munger and Sultanganj, a longer but safer route for travel between Bhagalpur and north Bihar.

Why is Vikramshila Setu important?

Vikramshila Setu in Bihar is a critical artery in the region and due to its closure, the direct link between Navgachhia and Bhagalpur has been severely impacted, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. It traditionally carries over 100,000 people and thousands of vehicles daily.