Malda, 30 August (H.S.): A portion of West Ratanpur Primary School in Malda’s Bhutni-Ratua area was washed away into the Ganga late on Saturday night as continuous rainfall triggered a rise in the river level and intensified erosion along the banks.

The school has around 320 students, and classes have now been suspended as the damage has made regular teaching almost impossible.

Local residents said the school had been facing the threat of river erosion for a long time and that the administration had been informed about the danger. However, they alleged that no effective preventive measures were taken.

Headmaster Bapi Sarkar expressed his anger over the situation and alleged administrative and irrigation department negligence. He said a similar situation had occurred last year as well, but despite informing the authorities, no adequate action was taken to protect the school.

“Because of the administration’s negligence, the river has swallowed the school today,” Sarkar said, adding that classes have been temporarily stopped. School equipment and furniture have been shifted to the nearby Khasmahal Junior High School for safety.

Meanwhile, continuous rainfall has caused the Ganga to swell, intensifying erosion across large parts of the Bhutni and Ratua areas. Several houses and plots of land have already been lost to the river, leaving many families displaced and without shelter.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey