Chhattisgarh Children Risk Lives Crossing Unfinished Bridge to School

School children in Chhattisgarh’s Gariyaband district are risking their lives every day to reach school. Children from Khambhatha and nearby villages in Mainpur block have to cross the swollen Pairi River. They use a narrow iron ladder to cross an unfinished section of the bridge, with the river flowing nearly 20 feet below. The rising water level during the monsoon makes the crossing even more dangerous. A video showing the children taking this risky route has now gone viral on social media.

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Six-Year Delay Leaves Bridge Incomplete, Villagers Threaten Highway Blockade

The nearly 300-metre bridge connecting Deharguda and Khambhatha has remained under construction for around six years. The bridge stands about five kilometres from the Mainpur tehsil headquarters. Villagers have repeatedly approached officials and demanded that authorities complete the construction. Exposed iron rods on the unfinished bridge have reportedly injured several people. The iron ladder also becomes slippery during rainfall, increasing the danger for schoolchildren and other residents.

Villagers face fewer difficulties during winter and summer when the river water level drops. They can cross the river on foot during winter, while large stretches of the riverbed turn into sand during summer. However, the monsoon brings a sharp rise in the water level and makes the crossing extremely risky. Around a year ago, elected representatives and the then district collector inspected the construction site. They directed the contractor to speed up the work and promised that the bridge would be completed within about six months.

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Schoolchildren Risk Their Lives Crossing Swollen Pairi River

The promised deadline has passed, but the bridge remains incomplete. Villagers say the administration’s delay has forced children to take dangerous risks every day just to attend school. They have now warned that they will block the national highway if officials fail to take immediate action. The residents are demanding that authorities complete the bridge as soon as possible. They also want the administration to provide a safe route for children and other villagers until the construction ends.

Gariyaband Collector Ranbir Sharma has said that he will visit the site and review the situation. The administration now faces growing pressure to address the safety concerns and speed up the stalled construction. Villagers hope that the collector’s intervention will lead to immediate action on the ground. Completing the bridge would provide a safer route for schoolchildren and local residents. Until then, children continue to face serious risks while crossing the river to reach their schools.

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