Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Flood-Hit Bhutni Students Receive Examination Shelter Arrangements
Flooding made it difficult for students in Bhutni to take their Higher Secondary exams.
Officials moved their exam centre to Manikchak College.
The students were placed in safe shelters near the college.
The administration planned to provide food, water, transport and other necessities.
On Saturday, a video said that food had not yet been given.
Officials then arranged food and cooking facilities.
The students later said the video was made before those arrangements were completed.
Floodwater is now slowly going down.
Buses are also helping people travel between Bhutni, relief camps and nearby areas.
Three schools’ examination centres were shifted from flood-hit Bhutni to Manikchak College.
Students were housed near the centre with food, water, transport and other facilities arranged.
A viral video alleged that food had initially not been provided at the shelter.
Officials said food and cooking arrangements were made after the video circulated.
Floodwaters are receding after a September 4 Ganga embankment breach affected around two lakh people.
- Who
- Higher Secondary students from three schools in flood-affected Bhutni, along with the Malda district administration and education authorities.
- What
- Examination centres were shifted and students were housed in separate shelters with transport and essential services.
- When
- During the ongoing Higher Secondary third-semester examinations; the area was flooded after a September 4 embankment breach, and the video surfaced on Saturday evening.
- Where
- Bhutni in Manikchak, Malda district, Bengal, with examinations held at Manikchak College.
- Why
- To help flood-affected students attend their examinations safely and reduce difficulties caused by the flooding.
Administration’s account
Examinees’ initial concern
Food and shelter arrangements
Administration’s account
Officials said arrangements had been made for accommodation, food, drinking water, transport and other necessities, and that food was supplied after the video circulated.
Examinees’ initial concern
Students’ video alleged that food had not been provided at the shelter and questioned how they could sit for the examination under those conditions; they later said the video was recorded before food and cooking arrangements were completed.
- Examination centre
- Manikchak College
- Students affected
- Examinees from three schools in Bhutni
- Shelter provisions
- Accommodation, food, drinking water and transport
- Flood cause
- A breach in the Ganga embankment on September 4
- Population affected
- Around two lakh people across three areas
- Water levels
- Reportedly down by more than five feet in several parts of Bhutni
- Transport assistance
- Free government buses connect Bhutni Bridge, Chowrangi More and relief camps