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| Flood-hit Jammu schools gear up for reopening after safety checks | | Jammu and Kashmir Floods | | Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 5: Schools across the Jammu region will reopen from September 8, but formal classroom teaching will resume only from September 10 after comprehensive safety checks are completed.
Director School Education Jammu, Dr. Naseem Javaid Chowdhary, announced a phased reopening plan that places student and staff safety at the forefront while ensuring continuity in education.
According to the order, all Heads of Institutions (HOIs) and teaching staff must report for duty on September 8 to initiate preparations for the resumption of academic activities. Offline classes will begin from September 10, subject to the completion of safety protocols and readiness assessments.
The education department has directed all school heads to conduct thorough security and safety audits of their institutions to guarantee a safe environment for both students and staff. Institutional heads have also been empowered to assess their school’s readiness and make informed decisions on resuming classes from September 10.
Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of all districts have been tasked with closely monitoring day-to-day activities and submitting compliance reports to the Directorate of School Education Jammu. The directive continues the provisions of an earlier order issued on May 3, 2025, reflecting the administration’s focus on balancing academic needs with safety concerns.
However, reports from various zones paint a grim picture. Several school buildings have developed cracks, classrooms are filled with slush, and furniture and other equipment have been damaged. Education authorities have clarified that normal classwork will not resume until the Public Works (R&B) Department completes safety audits of all government school buildings.
“We don’t want to put the lives of students and staff at risk in the current scenario,” officials said.
Preliminary reports suggest that 61 school buildings have been affected across the division due to flash floods and heavy rainfall, with four fully damaged in Kathua district alone. Around 40 schools have been reported damaged in Samba, with the figure likely to rise after detailed surveys. Similar damage has been reported from Udhampur, Reasi, Doda, and Rajouri districts, where assessments are still underway.
Officials admitted that clearing slush and mud from inundated school buildings will be a major challenge. Resumption of classwork in the worst-hit areas will be considered only after a detailed review of ground conditions and if safety is assured. In several places, school buildings remain submerged in muddy water and debris, further delaying restoration.
Notably, the Directorate of School Education Jammu had already ordered safety audits across the division, keeping schools closed until September 5. |
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