School turns into pond, kids at risk

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, July 16

Incessant rain has turned the premises of Government Elementary School at Arai Majra into a pond. As many as 230 students are facing hardships for the last three days, following the inundation of the school compound with rain water and sewage.

Children have to wade through dirty water to attend classes. Fearing spread of diseases, some parents have stopped sending their children to the school.

District Epidemiologist Dr Sumeet said health teams would visit the school and larvicide would be sprayed.

Some teachers, on the anonymity, said they had already given complaints to the local municipal corporation (MC) and the district education officer (DEO). Unfortunately, it is the same story every year.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Showkat Ahmad has directed the corporation officials to immediately drain out water from the school premises using pumps. He said, “Since the area falls under the civic body, I have asked the joint commissioner to look into the matter.”

Officials informed that due to overflowing sewer line, water could not be drained out on Monday and the work resumed on Tuesday.