Kathmandu, 31 August (H.S.):

Flooding triggered by the Bhotekoshi River has damaged 16 schools across three districts of Nepal, while 233 students and 17 teachers are reported missing or out of contact, according to the Ministry of Education.

Preliminary details compiled by the ministry up to Sunday showed that 16 schools in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading have been either completely or partially damaged. A total of 250 people, including students and teachers associated with these institutions, are currently reported to be uncontactable.

According to the preliminary assessment, four schools in Rasuwa, eight in Nuwakot and four in Dhading have been affected. Schools in Uttargaya and Gosainkunda rural municipalities of Rasuwa, Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot, and Galchhi and Siddhalek rural municipalities and Nilkantha Municipality of Dhading have suffered damage.

The ministry said most of the affected schools were swept away by the floods, while classrooms in some others have been filled with mud, sand and debris.

Four schools in Rasuwa have been completely damaged. In Nuwakot, four schools have suffered complete destruction and another four have sustained partial damage.

Twelve students and one teacher from the partially damaged Chandeshwari Secondary School in Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot have been reported missing or out of contact.

In Rasuwa, 16 students and two teachers from Nawavijayi Mahendra Secondary School and one teacher from Komi Shyamewangphel Secondary School are also unaccounted for.

In Dhading, one school has been completely damaged, while three others have suffered partial damage.

Although the building of Nilkantha Secondary School in Uttargaya Rural Municipality was not damaged, 200 students and four teachers associated with the school are reported to be out of contact.

At Komi Shyamewangphel Secondary School in Gosainkunda Rural Municipality, 16 students and one teacher are reported to have gone missing in the floods. In addition, four teachers from Dhading who had travelled to Gosainkunda on a pilgrimage are also uncontactable.

According to the ministry, only three of the 10 teachers at Nepal Rastriya Basic School in Rasuwa are currently in contact.

The hostels of Tribhuvan Multiple Campus and Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot have also been damaged after being buried under mud and debris.

Most of the affected institutions are community schools, although some private schools have also suffered damage. Three students of Trishuli Community Boarding School in Nuwakot are also reported to be uncontactable.

The ministry said a complete assessment of the damage caused by the floods is still awaited, as authorities continue to collect detailed information from the affected areas.

Several Schools Swept Away

Nepal Rastriya Basic School in Gosainkunda Rural Municipality of Rasuwa has been completely destroyed. The school has 109 students.

Similarly, Chipleti Basic School, Modern Trinity Boarding School and Malikadevi Basic School in Uttargaya Rural Municipality have been completely destroyed and swept away by the floodwaters.

Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot has also been completely destroyed, with its building swept away by the floods. The school has around 1,600 students.

However, all students had been sent home before the flooding occurred, preventing any loss of life at the school.

Several other educational institutions, including Chandeshwari Secondary School, Ramchandra Basic School, Trishuli Community Boarding School, Gyankunj Boarding School, Uttargaya Public English School, JD Boarding School and Pioneer Boarding School, have also sustained damage.

In Dhading, Bageshwari Secondary School, Success Academy, Amlashwar Gurukul Sanskrit School and Jaleshwar Secondary School in Galchhi Rural Municipality have also been affected by the floods.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said the final figures for the damage and the number of missing people have not yet been established. Difficulties in communication and access to the disaster-hit areas have hampered efforts to collect comprehensive information, and authorities are continuing their assessment.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar