Meenu Gupta
This monsoon, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have once again faced nature’s fury. Torrential rains, flash floods, and cloudbursts have struck with devastating force across Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Kishtwar, Doda, and the Valley of Kashmir. Rivers spilled over their banks, bridges crumbled under the force of water, and homes were reduced to rubble in a matter of hours. In places like Kishtwar, Ramban and Doda, sudden cloudbursts left entire villages grieving for loved ones and struggling to rebuild what was lost. Srinagar and its surrounding areas saw prolonged waterlogging, disrupting daily life.
Amidst this widespread destruction, some schools have not been spared. Classrooms have been flooded, walls cracked, ceilings weakened, and playgrounds turned into dangerous swamps of mud. Beyond the physical damage lies a deeper wound-the disruption of a child’s sense of safety and normalcy.
The Need for School Safety Audits
In the aftermath of such calamities, the return to school must be planned with the greatest care. A school cannot simply reopen its gates once the rain stops; it must first prove itself a safe space for children. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has repeatedly emphasized that student safety, both physical and emotional, is non-negotiable.
A school safety audit is therefore essential. This process involves carefully inspecting every aspect of the campus-from classrooms and sanitation facilities to transport and emergency preparedness. Without it, children risk walking back into buildings weakened by water damage, drinking water that may be contaminated, or using facilities that could collapse under strain. Safety audits ensure that the joy of returning to school does not turn into another tragedy.
Rebuilding Infrastructure and Trust
In towns like Udhampur and Reasi, where mudslides swept through neighbourhoods, many school buildings have been left vulnerable. The task before administrators is to assess structural stability, repair cracks, and clear away debris. In Srinagar, where stagnant water lingered for days, classrooms and storerooms need thorough cleaning and sanitisation before they can welcome children again.
Equally important is restoring sanitation and clean drinking water. Floodwaters often contaminate tanks and pipelines, carrying the risk of disease into already fragile communities. Schools must work with local authorities to test and clean water sources, ensuring that children are not exposed to hidden dangers when they sip from a tap.
Electricity too requires careful attention. In Kishtwar and Doda, where power lines were damaged during cloudbursts, reconnecting supply without professional inspection could invite further disaster. Children deserve to enter well-lit classrooms free of fear that flickering lights or exposed wires might harm them.
The Journey to School
The danger is not confined within school gates. In hilly terrains like those of Reasi, Kishtwar, and Doda, roads remain cut off or unsafe after landslides. For many children, the journey to school is already long and tiring, and damaged routes only add to the risk. Before resuming normal transport, every bus and route must be reviewed to guarantee safe passage. Parents, who entrust their children to schools with anxious hearts, need reassurance that every possible precaution has been taken.
Safeguarding Health and Hygiene
In disaster-affected regions, the threat of waterborne and airborne diseases is high. Schools must prepare to act as safe havens of health. Clean toilets, adequate water, and hygienic surroundings are not luxuries but necessities. Some institutions in Srinagar and Jammu have already begun collaborating with local doctors to conduct health check-ups and awareness drives, reminding us that schools can be powerful agents of community healing.
Healing Invisible Wounds
Perhaps the most delicate responsibility schools face is not repairing walls but mending hearts. The trauma children endure during disasters cannot be measured in broken bricks. Many have watched their homes collapse, seen families displaced, or witnessed the sudden fury of a cloudburst sweeping through their villages When these children return to school, they carry with them fear, grief, and anxiety.
This is why emotional well-being must be given equal importance as academics. Teachers need to step into classrooms with patience and compassion, understanding that children may struggle to focus or behave differently. Instead of beginning with rigid lessons, the first days should be filled with reassurance, storytelling, creative expression, and group activities that allow children to share their feelings. Simple conversations, collective prayers, or even planting a tree together can begin the process of healing. For some children, school might be the only place where they feel safe enough to smile again.
Preparing for the Future
The recent floods and cloudbursts are reminders that natural disasters are no longer rare events. Schools must therefore invest in preparedness. Regular safety drills, staff training in disaster management, and visible emergency plans are not bureaucratic exercises but life-saving practices. Working hand in hand with local disaster management teams, schools can transform into centres of resilience that prepare children not only to survive but also to help others during crises.
A Collective Responsibility
The task of reopening schools safely cannot rest only with school authorities and teachers. Parents, local authorities, and community volunteers all have a role to play. When families in Jammu come forward to help clear debris, when civil defence community members and NGO’s provide sanitation and essential kits, or when local officials support transport solutions, they contribute to a collective shield of protection around children. In times of disaster, this spirit of community becomes the strongest lesson children can witness.
Conclusion: Schools as Beacons of Hope
The reopening of schools after heavy rains, floods, and cloudbursts is about much more than resuming lessons. It is about restoring faith, stability, and the promise of a normal childhood. Every safe classroom, every clean glass of water, and every caring word from a teacher becomes a message of resilience.
As the people of Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Kishtwar, Doda, and Kashmir rebuild their lives, schools must rise as beacons of safety and hope. With careful audits, compassionate teachers, and united communities, the return to school can become not just a continuation of learning, but a celebration of courage and togetherness.
(The author is Vice Principal DPS Jammu)
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