Bihar state authorities on Friday suspended 15 engineers in connection with a spate of recent bridge collapses in the state, a senior official said.

The decision was taken after the inquiry committee submitted its report to the Water Resources Department (WRD).

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A total of 10 bridges have collapsed in the last 17 days in Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj districts, officials said.

The report found that engineers were negligent and monitoring was ineffective, which was the main reason for collapse of small bridges and causeways in the state, WRD Additional Chief Secretary Chaitanya Prasad told reporters.

Among those suspended are four executive engineers.

The Rural Works Department has also initiated the process of blacklisting a contractor involved in the construction of a bridge in Araria district. The department has also stopped payments to the contractor/firm for previous works till the completion of the investigation, said Dipak Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Rural Works Department.

The department also sought clarification from officials concerned over the collapse of bridges at East Champaran on June 23 and Madhubani on June 26.

Singh said an inquiry has already been ordered into the collapse of RWD bridges in these two districts.

Commenting on the bridge collapse incidents, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav told reporters, “Why are the leaders of the NDA-led Bihar government, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, maintaining stoic silence? These incidents are evidence of how rampant corruption is in the government.”

The RWD portfolio, which builds most of the small bridges in the state, always belongs to JD(U) leaders. Who should be held responsible for this mess? said the former deputy CM.

Responding to Yadav’s comments, Jitan Ram Manjhi, union minister and founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), an NDA coalition partner, said the issue should not be politicised.

Our Prime Minister has already issued strict instructions to senior officials of the department to take strict action against those found guilty, he added.

Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), another NDA ally, added: The NDA government in Bihar has taken this matter very seriously and has taken action against dishonest officials and contractors.