India, Aug. 8 -- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh Government over reports that schoolchildren in Vidisha district are risking their lives by hopping across the pillars of a check dam to cross the Betwa River and reach school.

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the Commission sought a detailed report from the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary within two weeks, observing that if the allegations are true, they raise serious concerns about the violation of children's human rights.

According to the NHRC, students are taking the dangerous route because it reduces the distance to school from 13 km by road to about 1.5 km. A video showing children jumping across exposed check dam pilla...