No Bridge, No Safety: Bihar Teachers Cross Flooded Ganga in Boats to Reach School

Ara: Every morning in Bhojpur’s Khawaspur Panchayat, government school teachers risk their lives to cross a swollen Ganga River in overloaded boats—without life jackets or safety measures—just to reach their classrooms.

Khawaspur, located across the river from Ara, the district headquarters, is one of the 22 panchayats in Bihar’s Barhara Assembly constituency. But unlike the others, it remains practically cut off from the mainland during monsoon, when the pontoon bridge is dismantled due to rising water levels.

At the Mahuli-Khawaspur Ganga Ghat, scenes of overcrowded boats laden with people, motorcycles, livestock—even buffaloes—are a daily reality. With the Ganga now flowing 40 centimeters above the danger mark, the risk of capsizing looms large. But for teachers like Jyoti Sagar, this is the only way to get to work.

“The boat won’t move until it’s full,” Sagar said. “Sometimes we wait for hours. We need to be in school by 9:30 a.m. for online attendance, but the boat only leaves when bikes and even goats are loaded. There’s no other option.”

“We Teach Children, But Risk Our Lives Daily”

Neelam Kumari, another government school teacher, says she has faced multiple near-death experiences on this river route.

“Just yesterday, our boat almost capsized. Thankfully, no one was hurt,” she recalled. “We give our best in the classroom, but every trip across the river feels like gambling with our lives.”

Despite the difficulties, most teachers live in Ara and commute daily. Khawaspur lacks basic amenities—electricity, healthcare, or housing—which makes staying there unfeasible. As Pratibha Singh, another teacher, explained:

“Even if we wanted to stay, there’s no infrastructure. One teacher tried staying with her children. Her child fell ill, and she was helpless—she couldn’t teach, couldn’t even get medical help.”

Villagers Echo Same Struggles

For villagers, too, the river is both a lifeline and a curse. Hare Ram Singh, a resident, shared how lack of medical access has cost lives.

“At night, there’s no boat. If someone falls seriously ill, we have to take them to Chapra—100 km away—or cross over to Uttar Pradesh, which is closer. Many patients die before reaching help.”

The only option, during non-monsoon months, is a pontoon bridge, which is removed during rains. The villagers complain of decades of neglect. Since Independence, no permanent bridge has been constructed despite repeated appeals.

Boatmen Struggle Too

Even the boatmen, often accused of overcharging, are themselves victims of systemic failure. Jitendra Manjhi, a third-generation boatman, says the four months of monsoon boat service aren’t enough to sustain a family.

“People complain about fares. But I have five children. I farm for six months and run boats for four. Still, it’s hard to survive. There’s no government help.”

Political Apathy Amid Rising Water

The situation has sparked criticism of political leaders. RJD leader Sonali Singh slammed the local administration and sitting MLA Raghvendra Pratap Singh, who has been elected six times from Barhara.

“It’s shameful that in 2025, villagers are still dependent on rickety boats. Khawaspur is treated like a forgotten outpost,” she said. “Had the MLA acted, a permanent bridge would have been built long ago.”

Despite being just 3 km from the Uttar Pradesh border, Khawaspur remains isolated, with no road connectivity or government ferry service. As the Ganga continues to rise, the situation becomes even more precarious.

“We Don’t Want Sympathy, Just Safety”

The teachers and residents aren’t asking for miracles. Their demand is simple—a permanent bridge, a proper boat service with life jackets, and safety norms.

“We teach children who will become the future of Bihar,” Neelam Kumari said. “But what about our future? We don’t want sympathy. We want safety.”