Who needs a newsroom when a pothole-filled road can serve as the perfect backdrop for three schoolgirls to deliver their own ground report?
Three Class 10 students from Maharashtra’s Raigad district have grabbed attention online after turning their everyday struggle with potholes into a hilarious yet pointed mock news report. What began as a creative way to highlight the poor condition of their school route eventually caught the attention of local authorities, leading to the road being repaired.
The three friends, Neha Ghare, Jyotsna Mukane and Mansi Pawar, all 15, decided to document the condition of the road they regularly use to reach school. With the monsoon making matters worse, potholes, muddy stretches and waterlogged patches had made commuting difficult for residents, particularly schoolchildren.
Instead of simply complaining about the road, the teenagers decided to approach the issue like professional journalists.
In the viral video, Neha takes on the role of a reporter and can be seen conducting a mock ground report. She uses an umbrella as a makeshift microphone while speaking to Jyotsna, who plays the role of a local resident describing the condition of the road.
Mansi, meanwhile, records the entire segment on a mobile phone. The girls highlight the potholes and muddy stretches while using humour and satire to show just how challenging the daily commute had become.
Their unusual approach quickly caught the attention of social media users, with the video spreading widely online. The mock report not only entertained viewers but also drew attention to a genuine civic problem faced by people in the area.
The video eventually caught the attention of the local administration, following which repair work was initiated on the road. The development has turned the three students’ playful experiment into a real example of how citizens can raise local issues and demand action.
The girls have since been praised by their families, fellow villagers and political leaders for highlighting a problem that had affected the community.
Mahendra Thorve, MLA from the Karjat Assembly constituency, also acknowledged the issue in an Instagram post. Sharing visuals of the road repair work, he said residents had been facing considerable difficulties because of potholes on the Khandpe–Kondiwade road.
Thorve said that after receiving information about the condition of the road, he contacted the concerned department and instructed officials to undertake the necessary repairs. He added that work to fill the potholes and restore the road had begun, with efforts being made to ensure smooth movement of traffic.
“Instructions have been given to complete the work quickly so as to prevent inconvenience to citizens and ensure safe travel,” Thorve wrote.
He further said that addressing citizens’ concerns and resolving their problems promptly remained his responsibility, adding that he would continue working towards ensuring a safe, smooth and comfortable commute for residents of his constituency.
What started with three teenagers, an umbrella and a mobile phone has now resulted in more than just a viral video – it has prompted action on the very road they were trying to draw attention to.