How Did a 40-Year-Old Bridge Collapse in MP? Repair Work Below, Traffic Flow Above — Tragedy Explained

Raisen (Madhya Pradesh), December 2, 2025:
A major tragedy struck Raisen district on Monday when a section of the 40-year-old Nayagaon Bridge on the Bareli–Pipariya State Highway collapsed during repair work, claiming the life of a former CRPF jawan and injuring several others.

The bridge, constructed in 1980 by the Public Works Department, had recently been flagged for structural weaknesses in a departmental survey. Following this, a repair project costing ₹98 lakh was initiated. However, even as repairs were underway beneath the structure, regular traffic continued to move over the bridge, raising serious questions about safety measures and supervision.

Motorcyclists Plunged as the Span Crumbled

During the collapse, two motorcycles carrying four people fell into the gap created by the broken span. All four were rushed to Bareli Civil Hospital. One of them, Devendra Dhakad, a former CRPF jawan, was referred to Bhopal in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Dhakad was riding across the bridge at the exact moment it gave way.

Why Did the Bridge Fail? Preliminary Clues Emerge

Investigations indicate that the portion of the bridge towards Bareli collapsed during active repair work. Experts suggest that allowing vehicular traffic on the weakened, under-repair structure may have contributed significantly to the failure.

The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of infrastructure maintenance protocols in Madhya Pradesh, especially concerning aging bridges.

Authorities are expected to submit a detailed technical report soon.