By Prabhanjan Mishra

Berhampur: The school bell is expected to ring again after the Dussehra and Diwali break, bringing children back to their classrooms. But in several parts of flood-hit Ganjam district, hundreds of classrooms remain buried under mud and silt, furniture lies damaged and school premises are strewn with debris. For thousands of students, the wait to return to school is far from over.

Around 150 schools across the district are in such poor condition that resuming classes immediately appears difficult, despite November 4 being decided as the reopening date. The damage extends beyond buildings, with books, notebooks, teaching materials, science equipment and essential records destroyed. Stocks of rice and pulses meant for the mid-day meal programme have also been affected. Snakes spotted amid the debris have further heightened safety concerns.

At Harihar High School in Asika, floodwater swept through the campus, submerging almost everything. Despite efforts by school staff to move essential belongings to safer places, little could be salvaged. Except for some important documents, most materials were damaged.

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The situation is similar at Handighar Government Upgraded High School in Purushottampur block, where thick layers of silt cover the premises. Teachers and staff have spent the past three days cleaning the campus. A tractor had to be deployed to remove the accumulated silt, but the school is still not ready to reopen.

K. Nuagaon Upper Primary School, Burupada High School and K.N. Pur Nodal High School are among the other affected institutions. The devastation spans 11 blocks, including Bhanjanagar, Asika, Purushottampur, Dharakote, Sheragada, Sorada, Chikiti, Patrapur, Digapahandi, Sanakhemundi and Belaguntha.

Schools were initially scheduled to reopen October 27 after the Durga Puja holidays. However, Cyclone Arnab forced an extension until October 29, while subsequent flooding further delayed reopening to November 4.

The district education department is now racing against time to clear debris and restore the classrooms.