A newly constructed railway underpass bridge in Jharkhand, built at a cost of approximately 5 crore rupees, has seen its guardwall collapse after the first rainfall, igniting a wave of criticism. The underpass, located near Ray railway station on the Barwadih-Barkakana rail section, was under construction by RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited) on behalf of the Railways. The incident happened around 5:45 PM on Wednesday. The collapse of the guardwall created a loud sound, reminiscent of a bomb blast, causing alarm among locals. Fortunately, due to the rain, construction activities were halted, thereby avoiding a potential major incident, and no injuries were reported. The incident has exposed the substandard quality of the construction. The project was nearing completion, with the inauguration planned. Local people and local representatives are critical of the construction agency’s actions and the construction quality. There is an expectation of strong action against those responsible for the project’s failings. The local population expressed their anger as they realized the extent of potential damages had the incident occurred during peak hours or if the traffic was moving. The collapse serves as a strong reminder of the critical need for meticulous construction and the use of high-quality materials in crucial infrastructure projects. This incident is not merely an unfortunate occurrence but an important moment to enforce accountability.
