Flood-hit schools remain closed in K’thala; academic calendar disrupted

More than a month after floods devastated several villages in Kapurthala district, schools in the worst-affected areas remain shut, leaving students and teachers in academic limbo.

Manjeet Kaur, a 16-year-old resident of Baupur Jadid and a Class XII student at Government Senior Secondary School, located outside her village, has been unable to attend classes since the flooding began. “There is still water at many places, making it difficult for me to travel to school,” she said. Her younger brother, a student at Government Primary School in Baupur, has also missed out on his education as the school has remained closed since August 10.

The flooding was triggered by a breach in a temporary bundh near Bhaini Bahadur village on August 10, caused by the swollen Beas river. Several nearby villages, including Baupur Jadid, were submerged, displacing families and severely damaging infrastructure.

Among the worst-affected schools are Government Primary School Kamewal, Government Primary School Baupur and Government High School Baupur Jadid — all of which have remained non-functional for over five weeks. Though floodwaters have partially receded, stagnant water still surrounds large portions of school premises, making it unsafe and uncertain for reopening.

The prolonged closure has significantly disrupted the academic calendar. Mid-term exams for high school students, initially scheduled for September, have now been postponed to October 3–8.

Once schools reopen, teachers will face the added challenge of ensuring student safety, as floodwaters have likely compromised school infrastructure.

The education department is monitoring the situation closely. “We are in constant touch with teachers to assess the condition of the schools,” said a department official. While efforts are underway to reach students through online platforms, both students and teachers are grappling with connectivity issues and lack of digital resources.

Local authorities estimate that it may take several more days—or even weeks—before normalcy can be restored. Until then, students like Manjeet and her brother can only wait, hoping that their education doesn’t suffer further setbacks.