NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported perils of school children forced to cross a river through an unfinished bridge in the Mainpur Block area of Gariyaband district in Chhattisgarh

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that dozens of children from Khambhatha and nearby settlements in the Mainpur Block area of Gariyaband district in Chhattisgarh, are compelled to climb a narrow and slippery iron ladder, attached to an unfinished bridge, to cross the Paiririver to reach their schools. Reportedly, the monsoon turns the shallow river into a torrent.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 3rd September 2026, a roughly 300-metre-long bridge between Deharguda and Khambhatha in Mainpur Block has been under construction for nearly six years despite the villagers having been assured of its completion in six months by the concerned authorities about a year ago.

NSK

Official source

[Read the original PIB release](https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2308315)

Source attribution: Press Information Bureau, Government of India.