The Punjab Education Department has initiated a comprehensive exercise to assess the damage caused to over 300 schools as floodwaters continue to inundate numerous villages across the state. With districts like Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Fazilka bearing the brunt of the crisis, the focus has shifted to the safety of educational infrastructure and the resumption of classes.
Initial reports from district authorities suggest that more than 300 senior secondary and elementary schools have been affected by the floods. The state government had already declared school holidays from August 27 to August 30 in anticipation of the crisis. However, officials are now concerned that the floodwaters are likely to have caused significant damage to school furniture, records, and building structures.
Teachers from the ground have been reporting the grim reality. “Even if the flood water has not entered some of the school premises, the schools are inaccessible,” said Mohinder Kourianwali, a teacher from Fazilka, highlighting that several roads leading to schools are submerged under 2-3 feet of water. This is particularly true for schools in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, and Nawanshahar districts, which are among the most affected.
Beyond the physical damage, the floods pose a number of secondary challenges. As pointed out by Hawinder Alluwal, a teacher from Kapurthala, the flood-affected villages now face the threat of water-borne diseases, and the administration must focus on the immediate rehabilitation of displaced families and the provision of food and water.
Education Minister Harjot Bains has assured the public that the government is closely monitoring the situation. “We are getting regular updates on the flood situation and would be taking the decision accordingly,” he stated, indicating that further extensions of school holidays or the implementation of alternative learning arrangements would be considered based on the ground reality. With the Beas and Sutlej rivers in spate, a complete safety check of all affected school buildings will be necessary before they can be declared fit for students and staff.