Hundreds of students on Thursday morning formed human chains to protest against the dismal traffic management and deteriorating condition of roads in the district.

Armed with handmade placards bearing road safety signs, around 22,000 pupils from 17 private schools took part in the protest from 7.30am. There were no government school students in the drive.

The protest was prompted by the death of Addya Vaishnavi, a Class III student of Mount Assisi School, in a road accident on NH-80 in front of Tilka Manjhi police station on April 27. One human chain extended from Babupur to Nathnagar, while another by St Teresa School students started at Lohiya Bridge and ended at Bhagalpur-Hansdiha road.

Mount Assisi alumni association president Alok Agarwal said: “Pupils wanted to convey a message to authorities concerned to manage traffic and revamp damaged roads.”