Shimla, July 24 -- Due to the absence of a bridge on the Banni Mata Nullah in Bharmour of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, schoolchildren reach school risking their lives every day by crossing nullah and when the nullah overflows during the monsoon children have to be carried on the back by parents to cross it. On Wednesday also, due to sudden water flow in the nullah, the local people made the children cross the nullah by carrying them on their backs. The children from villages Banni and Bhadra cross the nullah daily to reach Mandha School of Bharmour. Banni Mata Nullah is a stream near Banni Mata Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, located in Chamba district. The students of Mandha School of Bharmour are daily risking their lives to cross the nullah to reach the school. More than 25 students of the area go to Mandha Senior Secondary School by crossing the nullah. The water level of the drain rises even with light rain. On Wednesday morning also the water level of the drain suddenly increased. The villagers helped the children cross the drain by carrying them on their backs. The residents have raised the issue demanding construction of the bridge on the nullah but every time the same is turned down citing lack of funds. Ward panch Ramesh Kumar said that they have been demanding construction of the bridge for a long time but nothing has been done so far. He said that the devotees who visit Banni Mata temple have to cross the nullah. "For the last two years I have been pushing for the construction of the bridge on the nullah but nothing has moved on the ground for lack of funds. The tenders have already been allotted but citing lack of funds the PWD department and local administration is not paying any heed," said Janak Raj, a local MLA. Education minister, Rohit Thakur said, "Safety of the children is paramount even in remote areas. The issue has been brought to my notice and we will ensure the work of construction of the bridge is done at the earliest." About 65 students of a primary school in Kasumpti area in the suburbs of Shimla were shifted to a nearby community centre after the retaining wall of the school collapsed on Wednesday endangering the school premises....