📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Yann (talk)
Education
Bihar schoolchildren take boat rides as rivers swell
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 05 Sep 2026, 12:33 AM
👁 25
Rising water levels in Bihar’s rivers have forced many pupils to travel by boat to reach their schools.
Several districts in Bihar are witnessing an unusual sight as flood‑affected rivers force children to cross waterlogged roads by boat to attend classes. Local authorities report that the water in the Ganga and its tributaries has risen sharply after continuous monsoon showers, submerging many rural pathways.
Parents and school staff have organized makeshift ferry services, using small wooden boats and motorized dinghies, to ferry students from their villages to nearby schools. The arrangements are informal but coordinated, with volunteers helping children board safely each morning.
Teachers say attendance has dropped marginally, but most students are determined to continue their studies despite the hardship. Schools are urging the government to expedite relief measures, including temporary bridges and safe crossing points.
The state education department has appealed for additional resources to ensure that learning is not disrupted, while also monitoring safety risks associated with the daily boat journeys.
Parents and school staff have organized makeshift ferry services, using small wooden boats and motorized dinghies, to ferry students from their villages to nearby schools. The arrangements are informal but coordinated, with volunteers helping children board safely each morning.
Teachers say attendance has dropped marginally, but most students are determined to continue their studies despite the hardship. Schools are urging the government to expedite relief measures, including temporary bridges and safe crossing points.
The state education department has appealed for additional resources to ensure that learning is not disrupted, while also monitoring safety risks associated with the daily boat journeys.