Concerned over the imminent danger to students at a city-based school in Curchorem, a group of local youth took the initiative to fill a pothole that had remained unattended for several months on the busy road leading to the school.
The youth said the pothole posed a serious risk to schoolchildren and other commuters, particularly during the monsoon. They feared that if a student accidentally fell into the pothole while walking or riding to school, it could result in serious injuries.
Taking matters into their own hands, the volunteers gathered construction material and filled the pothole to make the stretch safer for the student community and the general public. The initiative was aimed at preventing accidents until the concerned authorities undertake permanent repairs.
Meanwhile, the youth also appealed to authorities to address the issue of open roadside drains in the vicinity of the school.
They demanded that the drains be properly covered and that an effective sanitation system be put in place, alleging that foul-smelling stagnant water flowing through the drains poses a health hazard to students and residents alike.
They appealed to departments concerned to take immediate and permanent corrective measures to ensure the safety, hygiene and well-being of the schoolchildren and the public using the road.
