No Bridge, Only Boats: Assam Village Children Risk River Crossing to Reach School

Children in Chengajan Gowala, a village in Assam's Dhemaji district, continue to depend on small boats to reach school each day because the area has no permanent bridge over the Lali River and the Buri Sauti. The village lies in the Jonai Assembly constituency, and students of Chengajan Kaivarta M.E. School are among those who make the crossing regularly.

Residents say the journey is both inconvenient and unsafe. Local resident Chandan Majhi said strong currents and a shortage of boats frequently disrupt the crossing. He said there is a constant fear that a child travelling in a small boat could fall into the water. Boats sometimes take a long time to return, leaving people waiting for hours, and when none is available, children miss school and their studies suffer.

The difficulty is not confined to students. Patients, pregnant women, farmers and traders also rely on the boats to get across. Villagers said the absence of a boat during a medical emergency can delay taking a patient to hospital or collecting medicines on time.

Residents have also sought better healthcare in the area, including a sub-health centre and veterinary services, noting that farmers and livestock owners often depend on doctors travelling in from elsewhere.

Concerns have been raised about accidents during crossings. Villagers said a girl reportedly fell into the river and died a few days ago; the incident could not be independently verified.

According to residents, a permanent bridge at the confluence of the Lali and Buri Sauti would make travel safer and improve connectivity. They said the demand has been placed before the concerned departments as well as MLA Bhubon Pegu and MP Pradan Baruah, but despite assurances, the bridge has not been built.

The use of boats by schoolchildren in Jonai has been reported earlier, pointing to long-standing connectivity problems in the area. Villagers say they want a lasting solution so that children can reach school safely and residents can access healthcare and other essential services without depending on boats.