2 weeks ago
Students Stranded as Floodwaters Cut Off Odisha School
Heavy rain made the Brahmani River in India rise very high.
The river water flowed into a school where many children live.
The school is in Odisha, a state in India.
About 400 children were stuck at the school, though one news report said nearly 300.
The girls sleep on the bottom floor, so the water reached their rooms first.
One report says grown-ups used motorboats to take the girls to a safer school.
Another report says the children were moved to the top floor and no one had decided to leave yet.
The boys on the top floor were safe and being watched closely.
A leader named Raghuram Iyer said all the children are safe.
This same area had floods just two weeks ago.
Around 400 students, including 150 girls, were stranded at a government-run residential school in Odisha's Kendrapara district after floodwater entered the campus on Sunday, though another report put the number at nearly 300 students, including over 100 girls.
The Kulasahi Ashram School in Pattamundai block is in a low-lying area and was completely cut off by rising Brahmani River waters amid incessant rainfall over the past 24 hours.
One report said girls housed on the ground floor were being evacuated by motorised boats to another residential school at Aul, while the other said students had been shifted to the first floor and no evacuation decision had been made.
Around 250 boys staying on the first floor were comparatively safe and being closely monitored, according to Pattamundai block development officer Sheetal Agarwal.
Kendrapara district collector Raghuram Iyer said all students were safe and senior officials were sent to the school; the district had witnessed flooding barely a fortnight ago.
- Who
- Around 400 (or nearly 300 per another report) Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students at Kulasahi Ashram School, along with officials including block development officer Sheetal Agarwal and district collector Raghuram Iyer.
- What
- Students were stranded after floodwater from the Brahmani River entered the school campus; one report says girls were being evacuated to another school at Aul while boys remained on the first floor.
- Where
- Kulasahi Ashram School in Pattamundai block, Kendrapara district, Odisha, India.
- When
- Sunday, after incessant rainfall over the past 24 hours.
- Why
- The Brahmani River was flowing above the danger mark, causing fresh flooding in low-lying areas of the district.
Key facts
- Students stranded
- Around 400 (another report: nearly 300)
- Girls among stranded
- 150 (another report: over 100)
- School
- Kulasahi Ashram School, Pattamundai block, Kendrapara district, Odisha
- Cause
- Brahmani River above danger mark amid incessant rainfall
- Girls' evacuation
- To another residential school at Aul via motorised boats (per one report)
- Boys' status
- Around 250 on the first floor, comparatively safe and monitored
- Officials
- Block development officer Sheetal Agarwal; district collector Raghuram Iyer
- Recent history
- District had witnessed flooding barely a fortnight ago
Quotes
Sheetal Agarwal
Pattamundai block development officer
“The school premises are surrounded by flood water due to rising water levels in the Brahmani River. Senior officials were sent to the school to take stock of the situation. We haven’t taken any decision to evacuate the students from the campus.”
indianexpress.com
“As the girl students are housed on the ground floor, the local administration has started evacuating them to another residential school at Aul. Motorised boats have been pressed into service for the evacuation.”
m.rediff.com
Sources
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