A 60-foot-long iron bridge over a canal at a village in Rohtas district of Bihar has been stolen by thieves who dismantled the 500- tonne structure posing as officials of the state irrigation department.

The thieves took three days to dismantle the bridge using heavy machinery and gas cutters at Amiyawar village located 150 kilometres south of Patna,  the state capital.

The metal was then carried away on trucks and is reported to have been sold as scrap. The police have launched a manhunt for the culprits.

The thieves told the locals that they were from the irrigation department and had been asked to dismantle the bridge.

A police officer said the village residents assumed that the government officials had decided to dismantle the over 30-year old bridge as it was not being used.

Villagers had previously submitted an application to the irrigation department to dismantle the bridge, one resident said.