The perennial traffic snarl on the Gandhi Setu claimed the life of a professor of Bengal's Jadavpur University, who met with an accident on his way to Patna airport from the Hajipur-based National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research on Thursday.

The deceased, identified as Tuhinadri Sen, 51, had come to Hajipur to attend a seminar at the institute run by the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, Government of India.

A motorbike, which was carrying him as pillion, was hit by a tanker causing grievous injuries to Sen and the rider Rahul Kumar.

Sen succumbed to his injuries on way to the sadar hospital at Hajipur, around 20km north of Patna. Rahul, a postgraduate student of the institute, is undergoing treatment at Hajipur sadar hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. Rahul got his ribs broken in the accident, which occurred around 4.45pm.

National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research director Pradip Das said Sen was in a hurry as he had to catch a flight for Calcutta around 6.30pm.

"Though we offered him a car, he preferred to go to the airport by a two-wheeler as there was a traffic snarl on the Gandhi Setu. Within half-an-hour, after Sen had left the institute, we received information about the accident on the bridge," Das told The Telegraph.

K.K. Singh, an associate professor of the institute, said the bridge connecting the capital with north Bihar, has virtually acquired the dubious distinction of being a "death bridge". "Days are not far off when the bridge will collapse claiming numerous lives," he said.

Singh shuttles between Hajipur and Patna on a regular basis.

A faculty member of the institute, Krishna, said Sen was a frequent visitor to the institute. He used to take examinations as external examiner and attend seminars and lectures. "But the poor condition of the bridge and subsequent traffic jam cost the life of an experienced professor yesterday," he lamented.

The anger of the relatives of the deceased professor was palpable at Bans Ghat where his body was consigned to flames.

A close relative, who didn't wish to be named, said: "Leave Gandhi Setu, even approach road of the Digha bridge is incomplete. I am surprised at the callous attitude of the state government."

He said Sen's laptop and mobile phone were missing. However, his wallet containing ATM cards and his identity card were found intact and were handed over to the police for investigation. A complaint was lodged with the Gandhi Bridge police station on the statement of injured Rahul.

A number of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research students had come to Bans Ghat in the capital to attend the last rites of the professor. Sen is survived by his wife Suchendra Sen and two daughters, who reached Patna on Thursday evening.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj said additional forces will be deployed on the bridge to ensure smooth flow of vehicles. "We have discussed the issue and new plans are afoot to ensure easy flow of vehicles," he told The Telegraph.

The SSP, however, attributed the reason for traffic snarl to the dilapidated condition of the bridge.

Earlier, Ganga Bridge police station house officer Amarjeet Kumar admitted that on an average five to 10 accidents are reported on the bridge every month.