'School Chale Hum' On A Tightrope: How Students Cross This Dangerous River In Jammu Kashmir Village

By Mohd Ashraf Ganie

Jammu: More than three hundred locals including students at a village in Jammu and Kashmir put their lives at risk each day as they cross a gushing river using a pulley.

For years, residents of Ghath village in Bani subdivision of Kathua district have been deprived of a concrete bridge across the Seva river. School children are still forced to cross the river by using a pulley. Locals said that they demanded the construction of a bridge from the administration and public representatives many times, but to no avail.

Students using rope swing to cross the river due to lack of bridge at Ghath village in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir (ETV Bharat)

For Mamta, a mother of two living in the village, the government's slogan 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' has been mere lip service as her daughters have to play with their lives every day to reach the school.

Students using rope swing to cross the river due to lack of bridge at Ghath village in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir (ETV Bharat)

“We cross the river by rope every day, many times I get scared that if my hand slips, my life is certain to end,” Mamta said. Echoing similar concerns, Vishal, a class 8 student said he fears for his and fellow students' lives while crossing the river every day.

“We especially fear for students of lower classes. If anything untoward happens, the responsibility will fall on us,” Vishal said. He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for building the bridge for the villagers.

Students using rope swing to cross the river due to lack of bridge at Ghath village in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir (ETV Bharat)

Kuldeep Singh, a local from Ghath said that the river was the major commuting route for students and locals but the lack of a bridge was putting lives at risk.

Chander Singh, a teacher at a local school said that the local MLA had assured to take up the matter with the government, but nothing had happened. “Although there is a detour to the school, that is too long and would require students to leave home early in the morning”.

A view of Ghat village in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir (ETV Bharat)

Local MLA Rameshwar Singh, who represents the village, was not available for comments over the matter.

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