Punjab: The education department has found in its preliminary survey that nearly 2200 primary, elementary and senior secondary schools have been affected by the floods. Though the flood waters are receding, some schools are still submerged, a senior government official said. He said it will take some time to get the exact number of schools that have been completely damaged or need structural strengthening. Nearly 300 schools in Patiala, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts have been closed for the next two days.
Education Minister Harjot Bains has already directed the concerned district education officers to ensure the safety of students and report any damage to school buildings to the deputy commissioners and the public works department. “Since teachers took charge on September 8, reports are being sought from all districts on a daily basis. It may take some time for classes to resume in some schools in the worst-affected areas of Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Amritsar due to the water level of the Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers,” the official said.
