Officials helped students in Garut district, West Java, to cross the Cimanuk River using inflatable boats after the bridge they normally used was damaged by floods.
“We, from the National Police, have prepared inflatable boats (obtained) from the water police unit, BPBD (Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency), and FAJI (Indonesian Rafting Federation) because many children from Karangpawitan go to school in Banyuresmi,” Garut district police chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Wirdhanto Hadicaksono, informed on Monday.
A team of officials, comprising personnel from the police, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and BPBD, was kept on standby to help students cross the river to reach school and return home.
“Our goal is simple: how to let students be in school on their first day,” Hadicaksono remarked.
Police received information about the damage to the bridge connecting the Karangpawitan sub-district to Banyuresmi sub-district on Friday (July 15, 2022), he informed.
According to him, about 70 students from Karangpawitan used the now-broken bridge to cross the Cimanuk River to get to Banyuresmi.
Therefore, in addition to assisting the students, the police, along with TNI, will help build an emergency bridge so that residents can cross the Cimanuk River safely, Hadicaksono informed.
“The Military Commander of Garut district will prepare a Bailey bridge in coordination with Zipur (combat sapper),” he said.
In fact, two bridges, located in Banyuresmi and the city of Garut, were damaged in the floods, he added.
“We have also readied vehicles for taking students to schools, if needed,” he said.
Meanwhile, a parent, Odas, said he was concerned about how his child would get to school as the bridge was broken.
“Going through another road can take a long time,” he added. However, he said he was grateful for the assistance from officials as children could return to school after a long holiday.
“Alhamdulillah (Thank God), students were able to go to school on the first day after a long holiday,” Odas said.
Source: Antara News