Jharkhand Students Forced to Risk Lives After Bridge Collapse

In Khunti district, Jharkhand, students are facing hazardous conditions to continue their education due to a bridge collapse. The bridge on the Khunti-Simdega main road was destroyed by heavy rains on June 19th. Villagers responded by creating a temporary solution: bamboo ladders. Students are now using these ladders to cross the Banai River to get to school. Videos show children climbing the ladders, which are around 20 to 25 feet high. The ladders have since been removed by authorities because of the risk. The bridge connected Khunti and Simdega districts. Now, residents of about a dozen villages must travel an extra 12 kilometers for essential needs. The bridge collapse occurred amidst a severe weather alert for several districts.