Patna: The state govt on Friday suspended 17 engineers following a string of bridge collapses across the state in the past fortnight.
These incidents, occurring in Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj, have brought embarrassment to the ruling NDA regime, which returned to power earlier this year under CM Nitish Kumar.
“We have suspended 17 engineers from flood and water discharge divisions as well as rural works department for gross negligence on their part,” a press statement issued by the state govt read.

Eleven engineers were suspended specifically for lapses related to collapses in Saran and Siwan districts.
“During inquiry by the flying squads of the water resources department, it was found that the engineers in question had not taken precautionary measures and also didn’t conduct the technical inspections of the river. Gross negligence was also found on the part of contractors,” the govt said in a statement.
Additional suspensions included four engineers from the rural works department for negligence following an inquiry by a team led by chief engineer Nirmal Kumar, and two engineers linked to a collapse in East Champaran district’s Ghodasahan block.

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