Amarpali: As many as 40 students of several villages of Durjantola gram panchayat under Biramaharajpur block in Subarnapur district cross a stream known as Harihara jor here to reach their school putting their lives at risk.
Since the construction work of a bridge across the stream is moving at snail’s pace, children of Masinapali, Makhankhai, Suradhapali, Durjantaila, Brahmanipali, Goghat and Baraghat dadar villages under Durjantaila panchayat, who study in classes from Class VI to X at Sagajori school, are left with no choice but to face the river.
Earlier, these children — mostly poor tribals — used to use the bridge across Harihar jor to reach their school. They have stopped using the stretch as it has become treacherous with full of craters and accidents have become way too common. Even though the villagers say they have taken up the issue with the concerned officials on several occasions, nothing has come out of it.
A little shower packs Harirar jor to its brim and the students are seen wading through three to four feet deep water while holding on to their bicycles and bags.
A little carelessness can result in the children being washed away, villagers rued while urging concerned officials to take steps for early completion of the bridge on Harihara jor.