Natural Calamities Cause Damage to 119 Schools in Mandi District's Seraj Assembly Constituency

In the Seraj Assembly constituency of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, 119 schools have suffered damage due to cloudbursts, floods, and landslides, according to Education Minister Rohit Thakur. Despite the devastation, 90% of these schools have resumed operations. Authorities are actively searching for 27 missing individuals after severe weather events on June 30 and July 1 led to the deaths of 15 people.

Thakur stated that he plans to visit the affected areas to assess the situation. Discussions will focus on reconstruction, repairs, and relocation of damaged schools. "I will visit the affected area, take stock of the situation, reconstruction, repairs and relocation of damaged schools would be discussed in detail, and a plan would be prepared," Thakur told reporters.

Education Infrastructure Challenges

The minister mentioned that temporary arrangements might involve renting buildings or other spaces for displaced schools. He emphasised that new school or college buildings should not be constructed near riverbanks to prevent future risks. This precaution aims to safeguard educational infrastructure from similar disasters.

Thakur recently participated in a meeting addressing educational challenges in border and tribal areas in Ladakh. The discussions included issues like low population density, difficult terrain, and limited funding faced by states such as Assam, Meghalaya, and Ladakh. These challenges are common in many northeastern and hill states.

Focus on Educational Improvements

During the meeting, topics like adopting the CBSE curriculum, teacher training, and enhancing basic infrastructure were also covered. Thakur highlighted that approximately 850 schools in Himachal Pradesh face similar challenges. Efforts are being made to strengthen the education system across these regions.

The government is committed to improving education facilities despite natural calamities. By addressing infrastructure issues and implementing strategic plans, authorities aim to ensure uninterrupted learning for students in affected areas.

With inputs from PTI