Dumka, July 17: The Ganga has swallowed Sarkanda High School two days before the students were planning to block the NH-80 near Sarkanda to protest against the indifferent attitude of the government in countering river erosion.

Yesterday, the swirling current also swept away houses near the school, located 20km from Sahebganj district headquarters.

The river has swallowed 37 hamlets in three years. Last October, Sarkanda Middle School, 200 yards from the high school, was washed away.

“Around 11.30am yesterday, the river started swallowing the school building, which was located on the south-east of Sarkanda, about 9km from the river’s original course. The newly constructed building disappeared after huge chunks broke away into the river,” a witness said.

The incident took place when labourers were demolishing the school building to save bricks and other costly material from being washed away. The double-storeyed building was in the imminent path of river erosion for a last week, villagers said.

The panchayat bhavan of Ghatjamni, the new middle school building of Sarkanda (under construction) and a 13km stretch of NH-80 are also under the direct threat of river erosion, sources said.