BALASORE: Education has taken a back seat in 40 schools in low-lying areas of Simulia and Khaira blocks of Balasore district. The schools have been closed since Monday due to flash flood in the area. As the flood water entered the schools, the classrooms were filled with mud, sand and garbage.
Though water level of river Kansabansa has started receding, flood water is yet to be drained out of the villages. Classrooms of some schools located near the river bank have reportedly been damaged and rice stocked for mid-day meals spoiled.
Students have been asked not to come to schools in some areas as the school buildings are used as shelter houses for the flood victims. People, who had left their houses due to the flood, started returning on Thursday.
The condition of the flood-hit people in Bauripada, Chalunigaon, Khirkona, Jamujhadi, Mangarajpur, Kanheibanka, Baunsibati, Harisinghapur, Kabirpur, Ankula, Bariha, Kurkuria, Pandu and Bhubanpur villages under Simulia block is yet to improve. These villages are still marooned by flood water.
Block Education Officer (BEO) Bhagirathi Giri said students in flood-hit areas have been asked not to come to the schools on safety ground.
Meanwhile, the BEO has asked school inspectors to assess the damage to educational institutions. Barring a few, most of the schools have been opened in Khaira block.
Sub-Collector Indramani Nayak and Simulia BDO Dharam Hansdah visited the affected villages. Locals informed that Chalunigaon village remains cut off as flood water was flowing five feet above the road at Mangarajpur Manasa slope.