Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 8: Schools across Kashmir reopened today after being closed for four days due to a flood threat triggered by incessant rains, though nearly 40 institutions in flood-hit areas remained shut.
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The schools were closed last Wednesday as a precaution after water levels in the Jhelum and other rivers rose sharply, posing a serious flood risk across the Valley. The crisis escalated when a breach occurred in the Jhelum embankment near Zoonipora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, inundating several adjoining areas including Shalina, Rakh Shalina, and Baghi Shakirshah. Floodwaters entered residential houses and submerged standing paddy crops, inflicting heavy losses on farmers.
While improved weather conditions over the weekend helped ease immediate flood fears, several areas in south and central Kashmir continued to face waterlogging due to the overflowing Jhelum and breaches in embankments, particularly in Shalina and other parts of Budgam.
Education Minister Sakina Itoo told reporters that around 40 schools in these flood-affected areas remained closed because they are either inundated or being used as temporary shelters for displaced families. She said that the Government is prioritizing both safety and learning. “Nearly 40 schools in flood-affected areas continue to remain closed and will be reopened only after conditions stabilize, ensuring that children’s health and learning are not compromised,” she said.
She explained that the cleanliness of the schools had been impacted, and many had housed families displaced by the deluge. “These schools were shut down because of floods, which impacted their cleanliness. Many affected families had also been sheltered in these institutions. That is why around 40 schools are still closed,” she added.
The Minister stressed that reopening would be done only when it is safe. “We are trying to restore normal functioning as quickly as possible, but we have to be sure that students’ health and education are not put at risk,” she said.
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