Odisha To Repair Cyclone-hit Schools, Provide New Textbooks To Students
Floods devastate several houses in Ganjam village; families seek urgent relief and rehabilitation
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated steps to repair schools damaged by Cyclone Arnab and subsequent floods in Ganjam and Gajapati districts and provide fresh textbooks to students who lost their study materials in the disaster.
The school and mass education department has sought detailed damage reports from the District Education Officers (DEOs) of both districts to assess the extent of damage to school buildings and identify the restoration work required.
Several schools have suffered damage due to heavy rainfall and flooding, while many students have lost their textbooks and other educational materials. The department has discussed the issue with the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) to ensure that affected students do not suffer further academic setbacks.
School and mass education minister Nityananda Gond said arrangements had been made to supply textbooks to affected students. The BSE would also provide books to students of Classes IX and X.
“We have sought reports from the two districts on the damage caused to schools. We will repair and renovate the damaged buildings and take steps to reopen the schools at the earliest,” Gond said.
Meanwhile, the devastating floods have left several families homeless in Masani Sahi of Baunsalundi village under Bhanjanagar block in Ganjam district. At least 17 families have seen their houses reduced to rubble after a massive surge of floodwater and mud swept through the locality following heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Arnab.
The sudden gush of water left residents with little time to escape. In a desperate attempt to save themselves, several villagers, including women and elderly people, climbed a nearby banyan tree and took shelter on its branches.
Residents recalled how floodwater suddenly entered their houses, sweeping away stored rice, clothes, household belongings and other essentials. Many fled without even getting an opportunity to collect their belongings.
The affected families alleged that they remained stranded without adequate food and other essential supplies for nearly two days, highlighting the difficulties faced by residents even after the floodwaters began receding.
The disaster has left the families facing an uncertain future as they struggle to rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
The residents have appealed to the Ganjam district administration and the State government to visit the affected locality, assess the damage and arrange immediate relief, temporary shelter and rehabilitation assistance.