With flooded ground, government primary school fears disease outbreak

Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 31
Though the Punjab Education Minister had recently issued strict instructions to the government schools to maintain cleanliness to avoid waterlogging during the monsoon, some schools need immediate attention as they face the risk of a waterborne disease outbreak.
The Tribune team visited Government Primary School, Sarabha Nagar, and found the playground flooded.
A student, while eating his mid-day meal, said, “It will take some days before the ground gets drained and is dry enough for us to play. Besides, we are worried that mosquitoes have started breeding in the stagnant water. We are bit during our classes and fear for diseases such as malaria and dengue.”
Besides, the humidity aggravated the stench emanating from the washrooms, he added.
Simarjit Kaur, school in-charge, said compared to the built-up areas, the playground was low-lying and accumulated rainwater, and that it took some three days for the ground to dry. “Recently, area MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi had visited the school, assuring us that the ground would be levelled to address the waterlogging issues. We request the MLA to do the needful as we suffer much during the monsoon,” Kaur added.

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