Disturbing visuals of schoolchildren being carried across a swollen seasonal stream have once again exposed the lack of basic connectivity and safety infrastructure in remote areas of Shillai development block.The videos, shared by Gram Panchayat Dahar Pradhan Bilam Chajjta, show villagers carrying schoolchildren on their backs while negotiating the turbulent waters of a seasonal stream near Dahar village. The visuals underline the risks faced by residents every monsoon due to the absence of a footbridge.More than 25 households in two nearby villages depend on this stream crossing for their daily needs. The route is also used by small children to reach school, making the lack of a safe crossing a serious concern for residents, particularly during the rainy season.The seasonal stream swells considerably with the onset of the monsoon, making its crossing hazardous. According to villagers, the videos were recorded a few days ago when the weather was clear in the morning and some children had been taken for vaccination. However, by the time they returned, the water level in the stream had risen sharply. With no footbridge or safe alternative route available, parents were forced to carry the children across the swollen stream.Gram Panchayat Dahar Pradhan Bilam Chajjta said the problem recurred every monsoon and urged the government and administration to take immediate steps to construct a footbridge.“More than 25 families from two nearby villages are dependent on this crossing for their daily needs, while small children also have to use it to reach school. Every monsoon, the rising water turns this route into a death trap. The government and administration must construct a footbridge here on priority so that villagers, especially children, do not have to risk their lives,” Chajjta said.Residents said the absence of a footbridge had made their lives particularly difficult during the rainy season. They alleged that despite the recurring problem, no permanent arrangement had been made to facilitate safe crossing of the stream.The residents have urged the administration to conduct an immediate inspection of the site and sanction a footbridge, saying a permanent solution is essential to ensure safe access for the two villages and prevent a possible tragedy.