Assam schoolchildren cross rivers by boat as bridge remains a distant hope

For children in Assam’s Dhemaji district, the journey to school begins with a boat ride. Every day, students from Chengajan Gowala village cross the Lali River and Buri Sauti in small boats because the area still has no permanent bridge.

The daily crossing has become a routine part of life for students of Chengajan Kaivarta M.E. School and children from nearby areas. But villagers say the journey is far from safe, particularly when river currents are strong or boats are unavailable.

Chengajan Gowala falls under the Jonai Assembly constituency, where residents have repeatedly raised concerns over poor connectivity. For schoolchildren, the lack of a bridge can mean long waits for a boat and, at times, delays in reaching school.

“When children are taken across the river in a small boat, there is always a fear that they may fall into the water,” local resident Chandan Majhi told ANI.

Majhi said strong currents and the limited availability of boats frequently create difficulties. Boats can take considerable time to return, leaving villagers waiting for hours. For students, such delays can disrupt their school routine and affect their studies.

The problem extends well beyond education. Patients, pregnant women, farmers, traders and other residents also depend on boats to cross the waterways.

Villagers said the lack of reliable transport becomes particularly serious during medical emergencies, when reaching a hospital or obtaining medicines quickly can be difficult.

Residents are also seeking better healthcare infrastructure in the area, including a sub-health centre and veterinary services. Farmers and livestock owners, they said, often have to depend on medical professionals travelling from elsewhere.

Safety concerns have grown after villagers reported that a girl recently fell into the river and died. The incident could not be independently verified.

Residents say a permanent bridge at the confluence of the Lali River and Buri Sauti could transform daily life in the village by providing safer and more reliable connectivity.

According to villagers, the demand has been raised with the concerned departments as well as Jonai MLA Bhubon Pegu and MP Pradan Baruah. They said assurances have been given, but construction of the bridge has yet to begin.

The dependence of schoolchildren on boats in Jonai has been reported in the past as well, highlighting the continuing connectivity challenges faced by communities in the area.

For the villagers, the demand is no longer simply about convenience. A permanent bridge, they say, would allow children to reach school more safely and give residents quicker access to healthcare, markets and other essential services.

Until that happens, the small boats remain the only link between the village and the other side of the river.