5 days ago
Ganga Erosion Threatens Malda School as Residents Flee River
The Ganga river is moving closer to homes and a school in Malda.
The school building may fall into the river within days.
It has 320 students and six teachers.
School items have been moved to safety, and students will use another nearby school for now.
Many families are taking apart their houses to save bricks and belongings.
More than 100 homes have reportedly been lost in three villages.
Some people are living in relief camps or under tarpaulins.
Residents say they asked for permanent protection but did not receive it.
Officials say they are helping affected people and discussing ways to slow the erosion.
The 58-year-old Paschim Ratanpur Primary School faces possible collapse into the Ganga.
The school’s 320 students will temporarily attend classes at nearby Khasmahal Primary School.
Erosion has reportedly swallowed more than 100 houses across three Ratua-I villages.
Residents are dismantling homes, moving belongings and seeking shelter in relief camps or under tarpaulins.
Officials say assistance is being provided and discussions are underway to check further erosion.
- Who
- Residents of Ratua-I and Manikchak, students and staff of Paschim Ratanpur Primary School, and local officials.
- What
- Rapid Ganga erosion is threatening a school, homes, roads and farmland, forcing people to relocate.
- Where
- Ratua-I and Manikchak blocks of Malda district, including Paschim Ratanpur, Bhutni, Srikantatola, Jittutola and Muniramtola.
- When
- Erosion intensified over the past three days and sharply worsened during the preceding 24 hours.
- Why
- Continuous riverbank erosion has brought the Ganga close to populated areas and the school.
Residents’ concerns
Administration’s response
Anti-erosion work
Residents’ concerns
Residents said they had repeatedly appealed over two years for permanent anti-erosion measures along the vulnerable stretch, but no work was done.
Administration’s response
BJP MLA Gour Chandra Mandal said officials and the state irrigation department were being contacted so erosion could be checked.
Immediate support
Residents’ concerns
Affected families are dismantling homes, moving possessions and taking shelter in relief camps or beside roads as the river advances.
Administration’s response
Mandal said the administration was taking immediate measures to assist affected people.
School safety
Residents’ concerns
The headmaster said continuing classes in the building became too risky because the river was only a few metres away.
Administration’s response
School authorities moved furniture and teaching materials to safety and arranged temporary classes at Khasmahal Primary School.
Key facts
- School age
- Paschim Ratanpur Primary School was established in 1968.
- School population
- The school has 320 students and six teachers.
- Temporary arrangement
- Students will be accommodated at nearby Khasmahal Primary School.
- Reported homes lost
- Residents said more than 100 houses were swallowed in Srikantatola, Jittutola and Muniramtola.
- Worst-affected area
- Srikantatola was described as the worst affected village.
- Displaced residents
- Some residents moved to administration-run relief camps, while others sheltered under tarpaulins along an elevated embankment road.
- Additional school relocations
- Officials said one of four schools on the Bhutni islet had already been moved and the other three were being considered for relocation.
Quotes
Gour Chandra Mandal
BJP MLA of Manikchak
“It’s frightening. Erosion is happening at an alarming pace. The school is likely to fall into the Ganga within the next few days. We have all shifted essential items to a house on the embankment.”
telegraphindia.com
“The administration is taking immediate measures to extend assistance to the affected people. We are in touch with officials and the state irrigation department so that erosion can be checked.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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