Dumka, Sept. 19: Deputy commissioner Harsh Mangla has sought an investigation into the damage to a Rs 1.24 crore bridge over the Nunbil river near Sugapahadi village in Masaliya block, that was inaugurated barely seven years ago.

Chief minister Arjun Munda inaugurated the bridge in 2005, following persistent demands by residents of three dozen villages. However, the bridge collapsed after incessant rain on September 14.

Now, the deputy commissioner has constituted an inquiry committee headed by the executive engineer of the rural engineering (special division) department K.K. Singh to look into the circumstances that led to the damage.

The rural engineering (special division) department was the executing agency during the construction of this 75.34 metre-long bridge built under the Mukhya Mantri Gram Setu Yojna in 2005.

The executive engineer said one of the eight piers of the bridge gave way after a sudden rise in water level and strong current.

“This is the first time the locality received so much of rain, causing the river to swell,” Singh told The Telegraph, adding that he had submitted a preliminary report to the deputy commissioner on September 18.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner has approached the state rural engineering department for a separate and high level inquiry by a team of experts to ascertain the cause of early damage, apparently not satisfied with the report of the district level inquiry team.

“I have written to the state headquarters for sending an expert team to ascertain whether there were negligence on the part of the engineers and contractors concerned which led to the bridge collapse,” Mangla said, adding those responsible would be punished.