Road and Bridge Collapse in Last 10 Years in India
Over the past decade, India has witnessed a significant number of bridge collapses, both on national highways and state roads. According to government data, at least 21 bridges (15 built and 6 under construction) collapsed on national highways in the last three years alone. In Bihar, 18 bridges collapsed in just the last two years, with 12 incidents occurring within a span of 20 days in 2024, prompting the state to introduce a new bridge maintenance policy.
Fatalities and Accidents
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that 285 people lost their lives due to bridge collapses in India over the last 10 years. The highest number of such accidents has been reported from Jharkhand and Bihar. Major incidents include:
2016: 47 deaths nationwide, including 26 from the Kolkata flyover collapse and 29 from the Savitri River bridge collapse.
2019: 26 deaths, with 6 from the Mumbai foot-over bridge collapse.
2011: 32 deaths in Darjeeling and at least 30 in Arunachal Pradesh from separate bridge collapses.
2022–2023: The Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat was the most fatal in the last 15 years.
Recent Trends and Notable Cases
In the last three years, 15 operational and 11 under-construction bridges collapsed on national highways, resulting in six deaths—all from under-construction bridges.
Causes of recent collapses include floods, excessive rainfall, glacial lake outburst floods, and mechanical or maintenance failures.
Notable recent cases:
Bihar: Multiple collapses in 2023–2024, leading to a new state-wide bridge maintenance policy.
Sikkim: Bridge collapse due to glacial lake outburst flood, killing two people.
Delhi and Tamil Nadu: Fatalities due to mechanical and hydraulic failures during construction.
Government Response and Policy Measures
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has initiated condition surveys, issued inspection guidelines, and launched the Indian Bridge Management System for better monitoring and maintenance.
Bihar’s new policy mandates health cards for every bridge, requiring regular inspection and maintenance records.
Key Data on Bridge Collapses (2014–2024)
| Metric | Value/Details |
|---|---|
| Total deaths (2014–2024) | 285 |
| Bridges collapsed on NH (last 3 yrs) | 21 (15 built, 6 under construction) |
| Bridges collapsed in Bihar (2 yrs) | 18 |
| States with most incidents | Jharkhand, Bihar |
| Major causes | Floods, heavy rainfall, poor maintenance, construction failures |
| Recent government actions | Condition surveys, Bridge Management System, State policies (e.g., Bihar) |
Bridge and road collapses remain a serious infrastructure and safety challenge in India, with hundreds of lives lost and recurring incidents, particularly in flood-prone and poorly maintained regions. While recent policy measures and monitoring systems are steps forward, the high frequency of recent collapses—especially in states like Bihar—highlights the urgent need for robust maintenance, transparent inspections, and accountability in construction and repair.
