Naidunia Representative, Vidisha | Children were seen crossing the Betwa River stop dam in Paloh village, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, to reach school. They risk their lives to cross the dam amid a swollen river. A video showing children in school uniforms crossing the dam by jumping from one pillar to another has gone viral.
Children Risking Lives For Shortcut Route
Children from Kakraua village go to a government high school in Paloh village of Jiwajipur Gram Panchayat by crossing the river. The road to school is about five kilometres away from the village, so the children cross the stop dam by jumping on the pillars. Most high school students take this route to cut the route short. Villagers from Paloh village reported that approximately 10 to 15 children from Kakraua and Imlia attend Paloh High School.
Rain Floods The Roads In The Village
The villagers face transportation issues during the rainy season; even a short rain floods the roads, cutting off the surrounding villages' connection to the city. The roads become dangerous during the rainy season, as the Betwa River overflows during the monsoon.
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Amar Singh Thakur, Sarpanch of Jiwajipur village, said a similar video had surfaced last year, after which the school principal had instructed children not to use the dam route.
Many people are still risking their lives by travelling on this same route. After high school, children have to come to Palah for further studies, or they go to Vidisha city. Since the city is much farther, they take admission in the school in Palah. The Sarpanch said he will now also try to persuade the parents of the child to avoid the dam route.