Unsafe bridge, swollen river pose risk to students

THE STUDENTS of Wishwood Cottage School near Army Golf View Colony face a tough time in the rainy season, as they have to cross a temporary bridge to go across Gambhir river on their way to school.

THE STUDENTS of Wishwood Cottage School near Army Golf View Colony face a tough time in the rainy season, as they have to cross a temporary bridge to go across Gambhir river on their way to school.

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Today, this correspondent witnessed students crossing the wooden bridge, which did not have side railings, when the school got over at around 1 pm. Though the school staff kept a watch, the risk factor cannot be ignored.

In case a student slips or loses balance and accidentally falls into the river, there is always a risk of his being washed away by the violent flow of the river.

When contacted by the Hindustan Times, School principal LT Col (retired) Anurag Shukla acknowledged the risk factor and said that the school staff was sent there at the time when the students crossed the river to avert any mishap. He said that a problem could emerge only when there were heavy rains, otherwise the approach was quite safe.

It may be mentioned that the land between the Agra-Bombay Road and the Gambhir river belongs to the Infantry School and was declared a training area of the Infantry School when Lt Gen DB Shekatkar was the Commandant. When the school authorities constructed a culvert bridge over the river to make approach to the school easier, the Army authorities objected to it and demolished a part of the same. The approach was sealed by the Army authorities, saying it was their property.

For sometime the school authorities used the original road but later removed the fencing and started using the path adjacent to the culvert. As there was no water in the river, passage through this path was quite safe. But now with the river in full flow, the school authorities placed a wooden plank from the riverbank to the undemolished section of the culvert thus making the passage risky.

SDM John Kingsley said that he was aware of the situation and would inspect the bridge.