Berhampur: Walking through puddles and waterlogged areas may be considered as part and parcel for many commuters during rains, but is proving to be quite a dampener for students of a school, who are forced to walk through filth gushing out from open drains in the city.
"We are facing lots of problem as the filthy water of a drain that passes 4 feet away from our school boundary enters the school premises and even the classrooms during heavy rain," said headmaster in-charge Ram Chandra Das of 132 KV Line Colony UP School situated at Aska Road in ward No. 2 of the city. The school is managed by the government.
During such a situation on Monday last, the classes had to be suspended at 3pm when the drain water gushed into the classrooms and the students were forced to wade through it in the school compound, he said. "The water gushes into the premises even though all the door and windows are tightly closed."
"We had approached local councillor Bhanumati Bishoyi several times to find a solution to this problem, but in vain," Das said. The UP school had been established in 1965 and its present strength of students in Class I to VIII is 153. It has five teachers including the headmaster in-charge.
Last month, a poisonous snake sneaked into the classroom and created havoc. "We had to nab it with the help of local public," said Das.
The concrete wall on the south side is well protected. But, drain water is gushing through east side where the wall is badly damaged.
"We are worried that our children may fall sick if they have to wade through drain water for classes. It is nauseating to walk them to school," said a parent. "There are so many water-borne diseases that our children are susceptible to because of this problem," said another parent.
"There is a need for a permanent solution," said school management committee president Krushna Chandra Sethi.
Ganjam education officer Sanatan Panda said he was unaware of the situation. "Nobody has complained to meon the school premises also remain idle as it is surrounded by bushes and the students are panicky about the snakes there.
