The Facts Behind the Viral Video of Students Crossing the Tripe River in Gayo Lues
In recent days, a video depicting school students hanging from sling cables while crossing the Tripe River in Kendawi Village, Gayo Lues Regency, has captured public attention. The footage went viral on social media.
An investigation into the actual conditions on the ground, including enquiries with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNNP), reveals that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and local residents are working together to build a new bridge, which is now more than 50 per cent complete. While the video circulated on 23 July 2026, field reports show that construction began a month ago and is progressing daily. At the site of the former concrete bridge, which collapsed due to flooding, two main pillars for the new suspension bridge are already standing. The main sling cables have been installed across the Tripe River, and workers, alongside TNI personnel, are currently completing the installation of the deck, floor, hangers, and wire mesh for safety.
During this construction period, community access has not yet fully recovered. As a temporary measure, the TNI and residents constructed an emergency crossing using two sling cables, which is still being used by the public, including students. To mitigate risks, personnel from the 885/Raksaka Dharma Territorial Development Battalion have also stationed a rubber boat on the river as a precaution in case river conditions become too dangerous for crossing.
Lieutenant Nurdin, Platoon Commander of the 885/Raksaka Dharma, stated that the construction of the Garuda Suspension Bridge in Kendawi Village has been underway for over a month, with one abutment completed by the end of July. The progress is being monitored by Brigadier General TNI (Mar) Dr Guslin, the Regional Coordinator for Aceh II of the National Task Force for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR).
Dr Kheriawan, Head of the BNPB Training Centre and the BNPB person-in-charge for Gayo Lues, noted that while construction has been ongoing, the project faces significant challenges. Heavy rainfall often causes the Tripe River to swell, impacting construction work. Furthermore, much of the construction material must be transported from Medan, and long distribution distances, coupled with unpredictable weather and recent fuel shortages in parts of Sumatra, have caused several delays.
Despite these hurdles, Kheriawan remains optimistic that the target completion date can be met, estimating the bridge could be finished in the first or second week of August, provided materials arrive as scheduled. He clarified that the Garuda Bridge is an emergency structure, similar to Bailey or Armco bridges, designed to restore immediate access before the government proceeds with a permanent bridge.
This construction is part of the broader rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following the flash floods that hit Gayo Lues in late November last year, which caused severe damage to local schools. To ensure education continues, the local Education Office has temporarily moved classes to the village prayer house (meunasah).
Kheriawan emphasised that the government is actively conducting rehabilitation and reconstruction across Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra. He noted that the scale of the task is immense, with 1,227 bridge units requiring attention across the three provinces. As of late July 2026, 574 bridges (46.8 per cent) have been completed, while 653 remain under construction, with Aceh representing the largest portion of the workload with 676 targeted bridges.