Over 300 schools affected due to floods in Punjab; Education Department assessing damage

With several villages in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Sultanpur Lodhi and Fazilka inundated, the Punjab Education Department has initiated an exercise to access the damage caused to schools.

The respective district authorities have begun rescue operations and the Education Department is also assessing the damage the schools have suffered. 

Initial reports suggest over 300 senior secondary and elementary schools being affected. Yesterday, the state government had declared holidays in schools from August 27 to August 30.

Reports suggest that several schools in Kapurthala, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Fazilka were inundated with flood water. Department officials said since the flood water was likely to cause damage to the furniture and structures, safety checks would have to be carried out before the flood water recedes and classes are resumed.

Schools in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ropar and Nawanshahar districts are the most affected. Schoolteachers in Fazilka and Ferzeopur district said with the Sutlej in spate, roads leading to the schools are 2-3 feet under water. “Even if the flood water has not entered some of the school premises, the schools are inaccessible,” said Mohinder Kourianwali, a teacher from Fazilka.

The flood-affected villages face multiple problems. “The threat of water-borne diseases, rehabilitation of the displaced families, provision of food and water to affected persons are some of the challenges,” said another teacher from Kapurthala, hawinder Alluwal.

With the Beas and Sutlej in spate, the district administrations have issued high alerts, prompting the government to declare an extended holiday for all schools. Alternative arrangements would have to be made if the classes have to resume.

Education Minister Harjot Bains said, “We are getting regular updates on the flood situation and would be taking the decision accordingly.”