Chhattisgarh teachers cross river daily to reach school, one carries 9-month-old baby

A three-kilometre-long trek, a rocky trail and a river crossing are part of the daily journey for two teachers in Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur. During the monsoon, the journey becomes even harder, with one teacher sometimes carrying her nine-month-old daughter while wading through the water.

The teachers are posted at a primary school in Dhaurpur area. During the rainy season, the village can be reached only by crossing the confluence of the Moran and Iriya rivers.

Their journey begins at Marna, where they leave their scooters before continuing on foot. From there, they walk about three kilometres through hilly and rocky terrain before reaching the river. When the water level is manageable, they cross it and continue to the school. But when the river rises too much, they have no choice but to turn back.

Speaking to ANI, one of the teachers, Sandhya Haldar, said the water can rise from waist-deep to stomach-deep during the monsoon. She recalled trembling while crossing the river, particularly because of the young children waiting at the school.

“We worry a great deal about them, feeling bad that we can't reach them or provide them with an education. The children get so happy when they see us,” Sandhya said.

The journey is a familiar one for the other teacher, Karmila Toppo, who has been posted at the school since 2014. She also parks her scooter at Marna before starting the tedious journey.

Watch the video here:#WATCH | Balrampur, Chhattisgarh: The dedication of two female teachers posted at a primary school in Dhaurpur hamlet (Wadrafnagar block) is being praised after it emerged that they cross a river daily to teach children.The village becomes accessible during monsoons only by pic.twitter.com/2YbrkRfXL5— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2026

Karmila said that the difficult journey returns every monsoon. The teachers are advised not to cross the river when the water level is high, but reaching the school can still become a challenge when conditions permit them to make the crossing.

Their dedication has now drawn praise from Balrampur Collector Chandan Sanjay Tripathi. He said he learnt about the journey of both the teachers and praised them for undertaking the perilous route to the school.

Tripathi called their dedication a “truly praiseworthy example” for other teachers and said educators who remain committed to their duties in such circumstances deserve deep respect.