Rainfall causes extensive damage to roads, public infrastructure in J-K's Rajouri, restoration work underway
Rajouri, August 4
Continuous heavy rainfall and landslides over the past 20 days have caused extensive damage to roads, public infrastructure, and residential properties at Manjakote's Ghambir Mughlan of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, severely disrupting normal life and road connectivity from Manjakote to Thanamandi
The Public Works Department (PWD) has been carrying out restoration work with JCB machines, but continuous rainfall and fresh landslides are repeatedly blocking the route.
Government Higher Secondary School Headmaster Mohd Azad told ANI, "...There are many potholes on the way to school, and the road has also been damaged. We request the administration to repair this road, as it is a lot of trouble for the children... How will we make this work if there is no road?.. The water in the drains has overflowed. Therefore, the children and staff can't function in a school in this area..."
Vice Principal Abdul Qauoom Khan said that many areas have been flooded and are forcing the authorities to go for online classes.
"...I would like to inform that it has been 15-20 days since the rains started and this area has suffered the most. The water has overflowed in many places. It is so difficult for the children that they cannot reach the school. It is also so difficult for the staff... We are facing a lot of difficulties... We are giving online classes to the students as allotted to the concerned teachers as per the timetable," he told ANI.
Physical Education Teacher Zakir Hussain Khan requested the administration to repair the road leading upto the school after it was damaged due to the rain.
"...The road is in such bad condition... This is a hilly area and a sliding area...The wall below the school and about 1-2 rooms is not secure anymore. The road that was behind the bathroom down below has been damaged... We want to request the administration that work should be done for road connectivity in our area..."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Online classes are not a solution for these children - many in hilly areas don't have proper internet or devices. The government needs to prioritize road repairs, especially near schools. Our kids deserve better infrastructure, not temporary fixes.
Same story every year in Jammu and Kashmir during monsoon. Roads get washed away, kids can't reach schools, and authorities react only after the damage is done. Why can't we have proper drainage planning for these hilly areas? 😔
The teachers deserve appreciation for continuing online classes despite the tough conditions. But we need permanent solutions for landslide-prone areas. Temporary JCB work won't help when the rains are relentless for 20 days straight.
Having lived through similar monsoon issues in other parts of India, I can understand the frustration here. The local administration should also consider involving the community in monitoring and reporting infrastructure damage early on. That could speed up repairs.
The school building itself being unsafe is a bigger concern! The wall below the school and rooms are damaged - that's a safety hazard for children. Administration should inspect all school buildings in flood-prone areas before the next rainy season.
Respectfully, the administration is doing what it can with JCBs, but
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.