Shreya Jain (28) was originally from Delhi and had arrived at the luxurious resort in Nakuchiyatal with her family and friends for her destination wedding

A portion of an under-construction bridge collapsed in Bihar’ Araria today. The concrete bridge over the Bakra River, built after spending crores, came apart in seconds.

Visuals showed the bridge, over the fast-flowing river, tilted on one side and a crowd gathered on the banks near the bridge, recording the moment it collapsed.

There are no reports of injuries.

The bridge was constructed to ease the commute between Kursakanta and Sikti in the Araria district of Bihar. Built at Rs 12 crore, the bridge collapsed before its inauguration. 

Sikti MLA Vijay Kumar told ANI, “The bridge has collapsed due to negligence by the construction company’s owner. We demand that the administration should conduct an investigation.”

#WATCH | Bihar | A portion of a bridge over the Bakra River has collapsed in Araria pic.twitter.com/stjDO2Xkq3

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2024

The collapsed portion washed away within seconds and the people started running toward safety. In another video, a few people are standing dangerously close to the edge of the remaining portion of the bride. While many people are standing under it. 

A major part of the collapsed portion was built over the river. The section built on the banks of the Bakra River remains intact. 

In March this year, one person was killed and several others were trapped after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Bihar’s Supaul. The bustling construction site near Maricha turned into a scene of chaos and devastation after the collapse in the morning, prompting urgent rescue efforts by local authorities and volunteers.

According to reports, the bridge was being built at a cost of ₹ 984 crore over the river Kosi. The accident bears an uncanny resemblance to the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bihar’s Bhagalpur, which had sparked a wr of words between the state government and the opposition BJP. 

Taiwan has rejected China’s outrage over an exchange of messages between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te, describing Beijing’s reaction as an “unreasonable interference”. “I think Modi ji will not be intimidated,” said Deputy Foreign Minister of Taiwan, Tien Chung-kwang.

“…The new president, Lai Ching-te, congratulated Modi ji for becoming the Prime Minister for the third time. I think Modi ji also used that platform (X) to respond. This is a very common thing to congratulate each other. Why do other people have something to say about it? I don’t understand. This is a very unreasonable interference between two leaders congratulating each other,” he said.

#WATCH | Taipei | “…I think Modi ji and our President will not be intimidated…,” says Deputy Foreign Minister of Taiwan, Tien Chung-kwang on the Chinese Foreign Ministry raising objections on the exchange of messages between PM Modi and Taiwan President on his message on his… pic.twitter.com/GFnqD6dZ3x

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2024

On June 5, Mr Lai greeted PM Modi on the National Democratic Alliance’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls and said Taiwan was looking forward to enhancing the “fast-growing” ties between the two sides.

“My sincere congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his election victory. We look forward to enhancing the fast-growing #Taiwan-#India partnership, expanding our collaboration on trade, technology & other sectors to contribute to peace & prosperity in the #IndoPacific,” he said on X.

PM Modi thanked the Taiwanese president for his “warm message”. “I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership,” he posted on X.

Thank you @ChingteLai for your warm message. I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership. https://t.co/VGw2bsmwfM

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2024

The next day, at a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China has protested to India about the exchange. Ms Mao said there is “no such thing as ‘President’ of the Taiwan region”.

China considers Taiwan as its breakaway province and insists it should be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan, however, sees itself as completely distinct from China.

“China opposes all forms of official interactions between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China. There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China,” she said.

Even though India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, trade and economic relations between the two sides are steadily expanding in the last few years.

In February, India and Taiwan inked a migration and mobility agreement that will facilitate employment of Indian workers in diverse sectors in the self-ruled island, a move that is seen as reflective of renewed momentum in cooperation between the two sides.