Dumka: For children of Nityanandpur village in Pakur district’s Maheshpur block, the journey to school turns into a life-threatening ordeal every monsoon. With no proper road or bridge connecting the village, students and teachers are forced to wade across an overflowing check dam, braving rising water and strong currents.The check dam, located under Manikpur panchayat, is the only access route to the school. During heavy rain, the water level rises rapidly, making the crossing particularly dangerous for younger children. Teachers, who face the same challenge while reporting for duty, often carry students on their shoulders to help them reach the other side.“We often have no option but to carry the children on our shoulders and cross the check dam. An accident can happen anytime if the water flow suddenly increases,” teacher Harun Mandal said, adding that the danger intensifies throughout the rainy season.Maheshpur block development officer Siddharth Kumar Yadav said proposals for both a road and a bridge had been sent to the district headquarters. However, he said the block administration had not received confirmation on whether either proposal had been sanctioned.The problem extends beyond Nityanandpur. Block programme officer Ganesh Kumar Bhagat said children from Sonapur and other villages located across Pagla river also struggle to reach schools because there is no bridge. “Nearly 48 children from Sonapur alone are affected,” he said.Villagers said they have sought a permanent road and a safe crossing for years, but their appeals have yielded little. Every spell of heavy rain revives fears that a child or teacher could be swept away by a sudden surge.Residents have urged the district administration to fast-track the proposed road and bridge and arrange an immediate safe passage. They warned that continued delay could turn the daily struggle for education into a tragedy.
