(Image source from: News Nation)

Bihar’s Bhagalpur Dam Collapses A Day Before Inauguration:- In a shocking turn of events, Bihar’s Gateshwar Panth Canal Project, suffered a major blow as a part of the dam collapsed just 24 hours before the inaugural ceremony. The project estimated to cost around Rs 389.31 crore was all set to be inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The wall of the canal collapsed when water from the Ganga forcefully hit it after the pump was switched on for trial run at Bateshwar sthan in Bhagalpur district. The water gushed into Kahalgaon and inundated areas in NTPC township as well some civil areas including residence of Kahalgaon civil judge and sub-judge.

(Video Source: IndiaTV)

Stirring the administrative head, Minister of Water Resources, Lallan Singh said, “The dam broke due to release of water in full capacity. The incident has not caused any damage to the newly constructed part of the project.” The inauguration of the dam has been canceled, due to an unfortunate incident.

The Bateshwarasthan Ganga Pump Canal Project was prepared by the government under the irrigation scheme at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur. The main aim of building the dam was to collect water in the canal so that the farmers would not have to face any problem. The collapsing has created a frantic atmosphere. Several reports of waterlogging have been identified and water can be seen entering the city, penetrating many homes of low-lying areas. The officials concerned immediately reached the spot, as soon as the information about the dam broke.

(Image Source: Dnaindia.com)

Principal Secretary of Water Resources department Arun Kumar Singh along with Bhagalpur DM and SP are on the spot to supervise measures for draining out water from NTPC township and some civil areas of Kahalgaon, around 3 km from the project site.

“Sandbags are being put to check the flow of water,” Arun Singh

Jharkhand State was also to be benefited from this project. The irrigation facility would have been available in 18620 hectares in Bhagalpur and 22658 hectares in Godda district of Jharkhand, through this project. Initially, this was just 13.88 crore plan but in January 1977, the Planning Commission had approved the scheme at a cost of Rs 13.88 crore.

SUPRAJA