Kallomahal school reopens in ruins after demolition for road widening project

Following the recent floods, many government schools in the rural border belt of Ajnala have suffered significant structural damage. However, the Government Elementary School (GES), Kallomahal, presents a different story behind the destruction of its building.

Located in the remote Ajnala-2 border region, the school stands on land that has now been earmarked for a road-widening project by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). As the NHAI continues construction work, nearly half of the school building has been demolished due to its location falling within the road expansion zone.

The school, which caters to students from Classes 1 to 5, originally had four classrooms and a kitchen area, serving around 40 students. Despite the building being structurally sound before the demolition, only two classrooms remain, where all academic activities will be conducted now.

“We’ve been informed that the Education Department has submitted a request to the NHAI and other concerned authorities for the allocation of a new plot to construct a new school building. Until then, we have no option but to manage with the two remaining rooms. Our kitchen has been demolished and we currently have no drinking water or toilet facilities,” said one of the two teachers posted at GES Kallomahal.

Prior to the NHAI project, the school was accessible via an all-weather road and had adequate infrastructure with four classrooms for teaching and two additional rooms, one of which was used as a kitchen for preparing mid-day meals. Now, with half of its structure gone and all schools in the area re-opening from September 23 onwards, the teachers said they will arrange for food and water with help of local villagers.

“We have been on duty for the past 10 days. We are using nearby villagers’ homes for toilet access,” the teachers added.

Meanwhile, a district Education Department official said the department is aware of the situation and has written to the NHAI requesting grants for the relocation of the school building. “Once the grants are received, the School Management Committee will review land allotted by the village panchayat where the new school building will be built,” the official added.