Children Risk Lives Daily Crossing Reservoir for School

Children in Kopa village, Udham Singh Nagar district, undertake a life-threatening daily commute to school. They must cross the Haripura reservoir on a small wooden boat, often rowing themselves, as no bridge or official boatman service is available. This hazardous journey is the sole means for 40 to 50 students to access education, followed by a two-kilometer cycle ride.

The Damodar region, comprising five villages and home to 3,000 residents, loses its only unpaved road during monsoon, making the reservoir the only transport route. This poor connectivity also critically affects healthcare access, with emergencies potentially requiring a six-hour trip to the nearest hospital.

Residents have persistently demanded a bridge for over 15 years, leading to election boycotts, including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This struggle in Kopa mirrors broader issues across Uttarakhand, where damaged infrastructure forces children and teachers onto dangerous paths to reach educational institutions.

Similar perilous crossings are faced by students in Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Tehri, and Pauri districts. In Uttarkashi's Sekku village, landslides obstruct roads, forcing children to navigate unstable slopes. Nainital's Chukum village sees students wading through swollen rivers, while teachers in Gerikhet trek miles through forests and landslide-prone hills.

Despite these widespread challenges, a glimmer of hope exists. In Sirodi village, a local initiative by a block development council member and her husband funded the construction of a pedestrian bridge, restoring safe access after previous infrastructure was lost.