On the first day of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam, examinees from Srijangram constituency in Bongaigaon district faced a dangerous journey: with admit cards in hand they crossed the fast-flowing Matraghola river by small country boats because no permanent bridge exists. The hazardous crossing at the dilapidated Matraghola ghat turned what should have been a routine commute to exam centres into a life-risking ordeal for students and residents alike.
Students were seen boarding fragile boats and clinging to hope as turbulent waters threatened timely arrival. The absence of a safe, permanent bridge forces daily travelers to rely on the makeshift ghat, where footing is unstable and safety measures are non-existent. The situation amplified exam stress, adding the physical risk of capsizing or being swept away to the usual anxiety of test day.
Residents say the danger is not confined to examination periods. Every day hundreds of villagers — including schoolchildren, patients, elderly people and wage earners — depend on the ghat for access to schools, health services and markets. Locals warn that conditions worsen in the monsoon when rising water levels and stronger currents often force people to abandon crossings and return home.
Locals allege that repeated appeals and representations to authorities, including elected representatives, have produced little or no concrete action to build a permanent bridge. Several minor and major accidents have reportedly occurred at the ghat in past years, yet the demand for safe connectivity remains unmet, they say. With no emergency infrastructure or safety mechanisms in place, each crossing is a gamble.
The precarious state of Matraghola has reignited questions about the reach and implementation of flagship government initiatives in remote areas. For many residents, slogans such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Digital India ring hollow when basic physical infrastructure like a bridge is still a distant promise.
Community members and parents are calling for immediate construction of a permanent bridge and interim safety measures at the ghat to prevent further accidents and ensure students can reach schools and examination centres without risking their lives. Until such steps are taken, travel to essential services in Matraghola will remain fraught with danger.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/assam-infrastructure-neglect-exposed-as-students-risk-lives-to-reach-exam-centres-in-bongaigaon-1346779-2026-02-16?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-16 11:13:00
