A group of 35 students from Sangda and Thalar settlements in Sigas Rural Municipality-7 of Baitadi, gather on the banks of the Nwaghari River every morning. When their teacher, Lakshmi Chand, arrives, the students remove their shoes and slippers, join hands and cross the river together. The scene repeats in the afternoon when they return home from school.

The absence of a bridge over the Nwaghari River has been forcing these students and their teachers to endure this perilous crossing each day. Although the river has already claimed three lives, the students have no choice but to face this dangerous challenge every day.

“All students wait for me on the river banks. We then form a human chain and cautiously make our way across the river. The looming threat of monsoon floods always hangs over us,” Chand shared.

The students echo her sentiments. “We cannot cross the river on our own. That is why we patiently wait for our teacher. Often, our clothes become wet while crossing, leaving us with no option but to continue our studies with wet clothes on,” Bindu Chand, a tenth grader from Sangda, said. He also said that the river has swept away books and study materials belonging to the students many times.

Kalu Singh Saud, the headmaster of Ganesh Secondary School, lamented the lack of a bridge over the Nwaghari River. “This difficult journey has affected the study of these students,” he added.

Local resident Dan Singh Ayer said the local community have approached all three tiers of government with pleas for a bridge. However, despite assurances from politicians during election campaigns, no tangible progress has been made, he added.

Three years ago, a bridge constructed by the rural municipality was swept away by floods. No initiative for  bridge construction has been taken since that incident.  Karna Singh Saud, the chairman of Ward-7, disclosed that the rural municipality has requested the provincial government’s assistance in building a bridge over the Nwaghari River. Chairperson of the rural municipality, Dhana Dhami, said although there were four bridges over the river, there is a need for one more at the location where the students cross the river. “We will now take initiative to build a bridge there as well,” she added.