Patna: Children walk to school and run back home, says an old British Airways advertisement. But these days, many parents say, their wards suffer from dehydration, diarrhoea and other health problems after being stuck in jams and getting exposed to sunlight for long durations thanks to chaotic traffic outside leading schools, especially in the Kurji stretch.

Students of Notre Dame Academy, Loyola High School, St Michael's High School among others bear the brunt. Absence of traffic police and illegal parking is to blame.

Shubhangi Sinha, mother of Aryan Raj of Loyola High School's Montessori wing, said Aryan fainted two days back on his way home. "We were caught in a jam for around 25 minutes," Shubhangi said. "We were not finding any autorickshaw. When finally we got one, Aryan fainted inside. I took him to a doctor. He said exposure to sunlight for a long duration was to blame. Had we not got caught in a jam, this would not have happened. Every week we hear that some child of the Montessori wing fainted or threw up. There is no traffic management in place. We hardly find any traffic police or traffic police outpost. There is complete anarchy."

Pragya Mishra, who was seen offering water to her daughter Shatakshi, a Class V student at Loyola High school, looked unhappy at the frequent traffic jams. "I live on Boring Road. It should take me hardly 15-20 minutes to reach home on my two-wheeler," Pragya said. "But it always takes me 40-45 minutes because of the jam. Lack of traffic police personnel and illegal parking are to blame. Those coming to P&M Mall park their vehicles outside the school, so do parents of students who come to pick them up and then there are autos that stop in the middle of the road to pick up passengers. Shatakshi gets totally drained during the jam."

Vandana Jha, whose daughter studies in Notre Dame Academy's Montessori wing, also complained about regularly being caught in jams with her daughter. "Getting stuck in this weather has an adverse effect on kids. They become dehydrated and lose all energy. As soon as we reach home, I have to sit with my daughter for 15 minutes to calm her down," she said. Her daughter starts crying during jams. Vandana said there were more road jams after the inauguration of the Digha-Sonepur road bridge, as more vehicles were coming from North Bihar.

Ruby, whose daughter Rini studies in Class I of a school in Kurji, said she shifted nearer school to avoid traffic. "Earlier, we used to get stuck for 45 minutes, which would leave Rini drained and irritated."

Traffic superintendent of police P.N. Mishra, however, claimed there was no jam-like situation in the last three days after he held a meeting with representatives of 48 schools. "I have not got a single call or message from any school. You can make a story out of your own will," he told this reporter. He then added: "It is but natural there will be a jam if 500 vehicles are on the road at a time. It is unavoidable."

Asked about the absence of traffic police at the outpost in Kurji area and authorities' failure to remove illegally parked vehicles, Mishra said: "But where will they park the vehicles? Vehicles are illegally parked as we have failed to provide parking lots. It is our fault. As far as deploying traffic police is concerned, I can't deploy my entire force to manage crowds in one area."

"Sweating from prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause electrolyte imbalance in children and lead to dehydration," said Diwakar Tejaswi, a physician. "Diarrhoea, heat stroke, loss of appetite, irritation, nausea, vomiting and rhinitis symptoms can also be found. It's better to keep them hydrated."

He suggested that children be offered water after they emerge from school. "Aerated drinks should be avoided while coconut water can be offered," he said.