When Floodwaters Cut Off the Road, Two Men Formed a Human Bridge to Save 35 Schoolchildren

In Malleyan, Punjab, heavy rains destroyed the only road linking two villages, stranding 35 schoolchildren. With floodwaters rising and no rescue in sight, two locals stepped in, forming a human bridge to help them cross safely. Their bravery turned a crisis into a story of courage and community.

25 Jul 2025 16:43 IST

Raajwrita Dutta

When Floodwaters Cut Off the Road, Two Men Formed a Human Bridge to Save 35 Schoolchildren — After floods hit Malleyan, Sukhbinder and Gagandeep Singh saved 35 schoolchildren by forming a human chain across a broken road; Image courtesy: NDTV

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After heavy rain battered the village of Malleyan in Punjab’s Moga district, the only road linking Malleyan to Rasulpur was severely damaged. A wide gap of about five feet opened up, with waist-deep and fast-flowing water rushing through the break.

This left 35 schoolchildren stranded on the far side, as they tried to return home following an early school holiday announced at 10 am.

Word of the dangerous situation spread quickly through the village, particularly via the local Gurudwara. Two men, Sukhbinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, were among those who rushed to help.

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Rather than wait for official assistance, they came up with a resourceful and brave plan. Linking hands, they formed a human chain across the gap, creating a makeshift bridge to help the children cross safely.

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Because of their quick thinking and bravery, all 35 children managed to cross the dangerous gap without any injuries.

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At least ten other villagers also used the human bridge to cross safely. Their selfless act has been praised by the local panchayat as an admirable example of ‘jugaad’, a Hindi term for clever improvisation in difficult situations.

For now, the road remains impassable, and the community has appealed to the state government and Ludhiana authorities to prioritise fixing the route. Meanwhile, the courage and smart thinking of Sukhbinder and Gagandeep act as a powerful reminder of the village’s resilience and the strength of community spirit in times of crisis.

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