Bridge washed away, students miss school

BHADRAK: The Raghunathpur Project Primary School in Dhamnagar block was reopened on Monday after nearly three weeks due to the flood. The attendance, however, was nil.  Hundreds of children of Raghunathpur, Kelasahi, Birigadhia, Nababnagar and Naurigadhia of Dhamnagar block study here.The school is on the other side of the Ganguti river in Raghunathpur and children used a wooden bridge over Ghodaganda nullah of the river to reach the school, which is a short cut.  As the bridge has now been washed away by the flood, students are unable to reach the school.Though villagers sail to Raghunathpur using a baunsa-vela (a flat boat made of bamboos), it cannot be used to ferry students to the school.Locals said this is the scenario every year when the river swells. “The villagers have been demanding for a permanent bridge over the river since long. The administration had allotted  Rs. 14 lakh this year from the MPLAD for the purpose, but only  Rs. 9 lakh has been sanctioned,” said Dhamnagar BDO Bidyadhara Pallai.