Alambadi (Tamil Nadu), Oct 15 : Lack of schools in the vicinity forced the children to undertake risky boat rides through the Hogenakkal river to go to their school in Alambadi village in Tamil Nadu''s Dharmapuri District.

The boats have no safety equipment.

Hogenakkal is frequently flooded. The memories of recent boat mishap in Kerala are fresh in their mind.

"We are from Marukkottai. If it floods, we will not be able to travel by boat. We have to cross two rivers to reach our school. So, we want that a Tamil school should be built in our village up till at least the 10th level," said Myilsamy, a student.

The villagers want the government to take necessary action and build school in their villages, so that they don''t have to send their children so far in boats.

"I have been rowing boat for the past 18 years and daily I see school children crossing river and going to schools. We think a Tamil school at Alambadi will be a better option. If it floods, then their studies will be affected for at least four to five days. The Government should take some steps to improve the situation here," said Rajendran, a boatman.

At least 41 people were killed when a boat capsized in the famous Thekkady Lake, a tourist hotspot on September 30. (ANI)