# Schoolchildren Risk Lives Crossing Surging Stream in Bageshwar: DM Apoorva Pandey Directs Officials to Prepare DPR for Footbridge

> Around 20 to 25 students from Digoli village in Bageshwar face life-threatening conditions daily while crossing the flooded Bhanarigwal stream to reach school. Responding to their plight, District Magistrate Apoorva Pandey has instructed the Chief Development Officer to investigate and immediately draft a DPR for a footbridge.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttarakhand · **Published:** 2026-08-21 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttarakhand/bageshwar-ke-digoli-men-jana-jokhima-men-dalakara-skula-jate-hain-bachche-jiladhikari-apoorva-pandey-ne-die-bhanarigwal-gadhere-pa-19712 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Bageshwar News, Digoli Village, Bhanarigwal Stream, GIC Bheta, Apoorva Pandey, Uttarakhand Monsoon, Footbridge Construction

With the arrival of monsoon rains in the hilly terrains of Uttarakhand, attending school becomes a daunting and hazardous task for children in remote areas. A concerning situation has resurfaced in Digoli village under Bageshwar district, where nearly 20 to 25 students are compelled to navigate a dangerous mountain stream every single day just to reach Government Inter College Bheta. During heavy rainfall, the water level in the stream surges rapidly, turning their routine daily commute into a perilous journey. The persistent absence of a safe footbridge forces both students and local residents to risk their lives throughout the rainy season.

## Bhanarigwal Stream Poses Daily Danger to Students and Local Villagers
For the young learners of Digoli, the route leading to Government Inter College Bheta requires crossing the Bhanarigwal stream. During dry summer days or normal weather conditions, commuting across the riverbed is relatively manageable. However, as soon as monsoon downpours hit the valley, the stream transforms into a raging torrent. The fast-flowing water makes it virtually impossible for small children to wade across on their own. This pathway is not utilized exclusively by students; local farmers and residents from adjoining hamlets also rely on it to reach their agricultural fields and carry out everyday chores. Consequently, the danger of slipping or getting swept away hangs over the entire community whenever it rains.

## Villagers Form Human Chain to Rescue and Transport Children
The situation turns critical when unexpected heavy showers occur during school hours or right around dismissal time. Under such circumstances, children find themselves stranded, unable to cross back to their homes. Sensing the immense danger, local villagers step in to assist the stranded students. Standing amidst the surging water, adults clasp each other's hands tightly to construct a resilient human chain. Holding the young children carefully, they guide them step by step across the roaring current. When water levels peak, this rescue effort becomes extraordinarily perilous, as a single slip could result in both the children and their rescuers being carried away by the powerful current.

## Long-Standing Demand for Footbridge Remains Unfulfilled
Village Pradhan Deepa Devi highlighted that the request for constructing a permanent pedestrian footbridge over the Bhanarigwal stream has been submitted repeatedly over the years. Ever since Government Inter College Bheta began functioning, students from Digoli village have had no alternative but to rely on this insecure path. The Village Pradhan stated that formal communications detailing the hazard have been conveyed to the BDC member, Zila Panchayat member, local MLA, and various administrative authorities. Despite these continuous efforts, a permanent structural solution had failed to materialize, leaving the village in perpetual distress every monsoon.

## Parents Experience Constant Anxiety Over Child Safety
On mornings when heavy rainfall begins early, schools are occasionally declared closed, or parents proactively decide against sending their children out. However, acute panic arises when weather conditions deteriorate midway through the school day after students have already arrived at their classrooms. Parents remain extremely anxious throughout the afternoon, worrying whether their children will return home unharmed. Villagers emphasize that this fear recurs every monsoon season. Their primary apprehension is the potential occurrence of a severe tragic accident in the swelling waters, which is why they are urgently demanding swift execution of the bridge construction.

## DM Apoorva Pandey Issues Orders for Investigation and DPR Preparation
Taking prompt note of the hazardous conditions faced by the children, District Magistrate Apoorva Pandey has intervened in the matter. The District Magistrate directed the Chief Development Officer to conduct a thorough inquiry into the entire situation. Furthermore, orders have been issued to immediately prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for constructing a safe footbridge over the Bhanarigwal stream. The DM assured that necessary measures will be executed on a priority basis to secure the daily transit of students and local villagers. Following these administrative directions, residents of Digoli expressed renewed hope that a permanent solution to their monsoon ordeal is finally within reach.

## Proposed Bridge to Provide Vital Relief for Students and Farmers
Gram Pradhan Deepa Devi stated that establishing a footbridge across the Bhanarigwal stream is essential for safeguarding the lives of young students. Once the infrastructure is complete, children from Digoli will no longer need to battle dangerous water currents to access education. Local residents added that the benefits of the project will extend beyond the student population. Farmers, daily commuters, and inhabitants of neighboring villages will also gain safe, year-round access across the stream during heavy rainfall. With the administration officially initiating the DPR process, the community now awaits quick progress on the ground.

## What this means for you
**Across India:** Highlights the pressing need for safe rural infrastructure and school transit security in hilly terrains during monsoons.

**In Bageshwar (Uttarakhand):** Provides long-awaited safety and reliable connectivity for 20 to 25 students, farmers, and residents of Digoli village crossing the Bhanarigwal stream.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which school are the children from Digoli village traveling to?
Around 20 to 25 students from Digoli village travel daily to Government Inter College (GIC) Bheta, which requires crossing the Bhanarigwal stream.

### 2. How do the students cross the swollen stream during monsoon rains?
When water levels rise, local villagers form a human chain by holding hands in the strong current and carefully guide the children across.

### 3. What action has District Magistrate Apoorva Pandey taken?
DM Apoorva Pandey instructed the Chief Development Officer to investigate the situation and immediately draft a DPR for constructing a footbridge over the Bhanarigwal stream.

### 4. Which representatives were previously approached for the footbridge construction?
According to Gram Pradhan Deepa Devi, requests had been submitted to the BDC member, Zila Panchayat member, local MLA, and related administrative authorities.

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