By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: In the Diyara area of Bihar, hundreds of children cross the Ganges River by boat every day to reach Anta Ghat in Patna for their primary education. These journeys are fraught with danger as boat accidents are a common occurrence, yet there is no bridge connecting Diyara to the capital, making boats the only means of transportation. These boats, operated privately, are not regulated by the administration, posing a significant risk to the villagers who also rely on them for travel.
The lack of oversight is evident at the ghat, where no government official is present to ensure the safety of the children as they board the boats. Gunja Kumari, a fifth-grade student, shared her fears, stating that the rising water levels in the Ganges have made the journey even more terrifying. “If there was a school in our village, I wouldn’t have to cross the river,” she lamented. Her school, located in the Bankipur area of Patna, is a two-hour boat ride away, and the swaying of the boat in high water leaves her frightened.
Deepak Kumar, another fifth-grade student, echoed these concerns, noting that his younger siblings also brave the river to attend school. Despite the daily fear, he understands that education is worth the risk. “If you want to study, you have to have this much courage,” he said.
Anshu Kumari, also a fifth grader, explained that after primary school, her older siblings must enroll in secondary school, which keeps them away from home even longer. With the water level high, the 5-kilometer journey across the river now takes up to an hour and a half. She leaves home at 7:00 a.m. and reaches school by 9:00 a.m., often scared during the trip.
Suresh Singh, a villager who accompanies the children on the boat, shared that a few adults from the village help monitor the children, ensuring they do not play dangerously near the water. He emphasized that their village, which lies on an island in the Ganges and falls under Chhapra district, lacks essential facilities, including a school and government offices. The absence of a bridge exacerbates the difficulties, particularly during medical emergencies.
The situation highlights the failure to implement safety measures even after the Education Department issued directives following an accident involving a teacher in Nasirganj, Danapur. The department had instructed district officials to identify river ghats where students and teachers cross for education, and to deploy divers and safety personnel to prevent overloading and ensure safety equipment is available. However, no such measures were observed at Anta Ghat on Saturday, despite its proximity to the Patna SSP and DM offices.
