Sarvjeet Singh
Kathua, (DD) In the remote villages of Ghat and Ghath in the Bani Sub-Division of Jammu & Kashmir’s Kathua district, life hangs—quite literally—by a thread. With no bridge over the turbulent Seva River, more than 300 residents are forced to rely on a makeshift rope trolley to cross the river, risking their lives every single day.
Among the most vulnerable are dozens of school-going children who brave the dangerous crossing just to attend school.
With the monsoon rains swelling the river and increasing its current, the daily commute becomes a perilous journey, putting young lives at constant risk.
“This isn’t just a story of struggle—it’s a glaring case of administrative apathy,” says one local resident, adding that villagers have repeatedly raised the issue with elected representatives and officials.
“Years have passed, promises have been made, but not a single brick has been laid for a permanent solution.”
Parents, too, are anguished. “Every day, we watch our children dangle above a raging river. We live in fear until they return home,” said one mother, her voice trembling with emotion.
Local students, along with their families, have once again issued a heartfelt appeal to the government: build a bridge, and build it now. The absence of even basic infrastructure in these hilly areas underscores the widening urban-rural divide and the pressing need for inclusive development.
With the risk of tragedy looming large, the villagers warn that continued inaction could result in loss of life. They urge the administration to act urgently before another rainy season turns routine travel into a life-and-death ordeal.
“We don’t want to protest. We just want our children to be safe,” said a schoolteacher from the village, summarizing the plea of an entire community(DD)
