Sans bridge, students fail to cross flooded nullah in Boudh, spend night in garage

As many as 12 school children failed to return home after water level increased in a nullah due to flash flood caused by incessant rain at Harabhanga Digisira village in Boudh district on Thursday.  

Finding no other go, they had to take shelter in a garage situated on the other side of the nullah. After floodwater receded, parents of those kids made them cross the nullah to return home.

According to sources, 13 students including a college student of Digisira village everyday cross Lakhmi nullah to reach their school at Charichhaka. They were returning home on Thursday when they found it hard to cross the swollen nullah. 

While trying to cross the nullah, two cycles of the students were washed away by the floodwater. Luckily, two students got narrowly saved from being swept away. Following the incident, students did not dare to chase the floodwater and took shelter in a garage the whole night.

Meanwhile, villagers have demanded construction of a bridge there and compensation for the cycles swept away in the floodwater. 

When contacted, Harabhanga Block Development Officer (BDO) Smitarani Rath said, “I was unaware of the incident. We have not received any complaint in this regard. Let me confirm the news and then I will comment.”

A student said, “When I went to school, the nullah had less water. When I returned from school, the nullah was swelling for which I could not return home. I had to spend night in the garage. Today my parents took me back home. It’s a regular problem but the government is yet to pay heed to our problems.”