Repeated Land Subsidence and Homes in Crisis
Bhagalpur: The 'Manik Sarkar Ghat' area of Bhagalpur, which holds historical significance as the maternal home of the renowned novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and is filled with heritage, is currently on the brink of a major disaster. Two major incidents occurring here in the last few months have not only shattered the peace of mind of the local residents but have also raised several serious questions about the administration's inefficient working style. Due to increasing riverbank erosion and the repeated caving in of the road, the lives of over 50 families living here are in constant danger.
The Horror of Recurring Incidents
The Manik Sarkar Ghat road has collapsed for the third time in the last two years. Two major incidents in recent months have exacerbated the situation. Approximately 80 meters of the road has been claimed by the Ganga River, and the ground has subsided by about 10 to 30 feet. Local residents report that along with the road collapse, massive cracks have appeared in the walls of nearby houses, forcing people to abandon their homes and flee to safer locations.
The 'Impact' of Administrative Negligence
Local residents allege that the 'paperwork' approach of the Municipal Corporation and the Water Resources Department is the root cause of this devastation. When the road first collapsed on November 19, 2023, grand assurances were given. Some repairs were carried out in the name of formality in March 2025, but no 'permanent solution' was devised to stop the erosion.
Experts believe that the construction work carried out by BUDCO in the name of a storm-water drain, which lacked any proper discharge mechanism, is now becoming a death trap for the area. Due to the inability of drain water to flow out properly, seepage has occurred, weakening the soil's hold and causing the road to subside repeatedly.
Life Under the Shadow of Terror
Vinay Kumar Rai, a resident of Manik Sarkar Ghat Road (Baikunthnagar Colony), states that there are about a hundred houses in the colony where hundreds of people live. Since the road collapse, traffic has come to a near-standstill. Forget passing by with two-wheelers or four-wheelers; even walking has become life-threatening. After the recent incident, one family had to hurriedly leave their home and take shelter with neighbors because their house walls were cracking right before their eyes.
What Does the Administration Say?
Following the incident, Municipal Commissioner Shubham Kumar inspected the site and sent a team of engineers to assess the situation. He has written to the Flood Control Division, instructing them to immediately use 'geo-bags' to stop the erosion. Mayor Dr. Basundhara Lal has also taken a firm stance, ordering the construction of a retaining wall to begin on a war footing so that the area can be secured before the monsoon season.
The Path to Resolution: Challenges and the Future
Even though the administration has finally sprung into action, the anger of the local residents shows no signs of subsiding. People say that the administration only wakes up from its slumber after a major tragedy occurs.
Need for a Permanent Solution: According to experts, unless the river embankment is strengthened scientifically, this danger will persist.
Curbing Illegal Construction: Illegal construction and foundation work happening unabated along the ghat must be stopped immediately, as they are further promoting soil erosion.
Sewerage System Audit: The sewerage treatment plant pipeline that has shifted toward the Ganga needs urgent repair; otherwise, it will turn the entire settlement into a swamp.
The tragedy at Manik Sarkar Ghat is a warning. If anti-erosion works and better engineering solutions are not adopted in time, this historical area of Bhagalpur could be erased from the map. The administration must now focus not on 'repairs,' but on 'reconstruction' and 'protection' so that the people can breathe a sigh of relief.
