Children trek a perilous ladder over a flood-swollen river as a six-year bridge remains unfinished

When monsoon rains turn the Pairi river into a 20-foot-deep flow, children in Mainpur block must navigate a precarious iron ladder fixed to an unfinished bridge to reach their schools. The bridge, spanning roughly 300 metres between Deharguda and Khambhatha, has been stalled for about six years, with exposed steel bars already causing injuries. Videos of the risky crossing circulated online, prompting visits from elected representatives and a former collector who ordered the contractor to accelerate work, yet the promised six-month deadline has long passed.

Villagers have threatened to block the national highway unless a safe passage is provided, and the district collector said he will assess the project and assign responsibility for delays. The area, once a Maoist stronghold, is now returning to normal, making the unfinished bridge a stark reminder of lingering infrastructure challenges.