“The bridge suddenly disappeared,” said the residents from the Amiyawar village.
A 500-tonne bridge in India was stolen by thieves posing as government officials.
Photo via The Hindu
According to The Hindu, a police report was filed on Friday (April 8th) by the residents of the Amiyawar in Bihar’s Rohtas district, saying that the 45-year-old iron structure “suddenly disappeared.”
“The bridge structure was there just three days ago, but it suddenly vanished. We have contacted local officials,” one neighbor said.
The bridge was reportedly disassembled over the course of two days by guys posing as State Irrigation Department workers who were replacing the deteriorated structure with a new one. Adding to the confusion, an application to have the bridge removed had previously been submitted to the aforementioned department.
Photo via The Hindu
The thieves took down the bridge with gas cutters and earthmoving machinery, as reported by Reuters.
“They took the bridge and destroyed public property,” said Subash Kumar, a police officer.
The stolen metal was most likely sold as scrap metal, which is a common and profitable business in India.
Local police have also identified several members of the bridge-stealing gang.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
