DHADING: The Chepang children of Mahadevsthan VDC in southern Dhading have not been able to attend school for the past several days.

They have been deprived of their studies as the river they need to cross to reach their school has swollen due to heavy rains.

“As there is no school in the vicinity, our children go to Pipalbhanjyang Secondary School in the neighbouring Tatli VDC. However, they have not been able to go to school as they could not cross the swollen Malekhu river,” guardians said, adding, that their children might have to forgo studies till the monsoon rains relent.

“Though we have been demanding that a bridge be built across the river, our demands have fallen on deaf ears,” Jitendra Chapang, central member, Nepal Chepang Association, said.

“Guardians do not allow their children to go to school fearing the swollen river,” said Tilak Chepang, a local. Chepangs rued that though they repeatedly urged party leaders, ministers and CA members to construct a suspension bridge across the river, nothing had yet been done to alleviate their plight.