Children toting heavy schoolbags have to balance precariously on a makeshift bamboo bridge that wobbles under their weight as they navigate their way to school in a ward of this town.

The slogans of development sound meaningless as far as plight of people, including students of 2422 No. Nava Pathshala Lower Primary School under ward 12, is concerned.

People of Rabindra Pally and Vidhan Pally under this ward of Dhubri municipality have been suffering since long for want of a permanent bridge over a big drain flowing between the two localities.

The local people’s repeated appeals to the administration for a concrete bridge have yielded no result.

To make matters worse, every year the area remains under water for over six months.

During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent saw people crossing the rickety bamboo bridge, about 40 feet long.

“We face a great deal of inconvenience, particularly during the monsoon, as we have to cross the bamboo bridge. Many a time we have urged the municipal authorities to set up an RCC bridge, but we are yet to get any response,” said Ila Saha, a local resident.

Headmaster of the 2422 No. Naba Pathshala Lower Primary School in Vidhan Pally, Ratan Kr Kanu, said: “Every year, locals bear the expenses of building a bamboo bridge. Children have to cross the bamboo structure risking life and limb during the rainy season.”

A guardian said on condition of anonymity: “During every municipal election campaign, candidates assure us of a concrete bridge but later leaders of the Congress and the BJP always forget these promises.”

The people have urged the state government, especially the municipal board, and district authorities to consider the matter at the earliest. The chairperson of Dhubri Municipal Board, Pushapo Malo, said around Rs 20 lakh would be required for construction of an RCC bridge. He added that the bamboo bridge would be replaced by a concrete one soon once funds are received from the government shortly.