Shimla: As monsoon conditions worsen in Himachal Pradesh, the state government has decided to suspend in-person classes for students during heavy rainfall. Teachers and non-teaching staff, however, are still required to report to their respective schools to conduct online lessons and manage administrative tasks.

Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar issued an official notice empowering Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to close schools under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, when adverse weather threatens student safety. This decision comes as the region faces significant infrastructure damage due to torrential rains and landslides.

Kanwar emphasized that the safety of students is paramount, allowing them to stay home during severe weather conditions. Meanwhile, teachers and administrative staff are expected to make productive use of these days.

Teachers are tasked with conducting online classes from school premises, updating data on PMIS and UDISE portals, and completing necessary records related to the mid-day meal scheme, lesson plans, and assessments, as well as finalizing outstanding work for School Management Committees (SMCs) and Samagra Shiksha.

Reports of infrastructure damage are alarming, particularly in Mandi, where heavy rains from June 29 to July 1 have affected over 84 school buildings, leading to estimated losses of Rs 2.26 crore across 81 primary schools. This figure is likely to increase as damage assessments from various education blocks are still pending.

In the Bagsyad education block, landslides and flash floods have severely impacted several school campuses. The Government Primary School in Surah has been completely destroyed, with damages estimated at Rs 20 lakh.

Additionally, one block of the Sumna school has collapsed, while the other is filled with debris, incurring damages of Rs 10 lakh. At Daran school, the boundary wall has entirely crumbled, resulting in a loss of Rs 3 lakh, while Keyolidhar school faced Rs 2 lakh in damages due to a collapsed safety wall.

The Deputy Director of Higher Education has reported damage to three higher education buildings, amounting to losses of Rs 14 lakh.

Although the Education Department has not mandated a statewide school closure, it has granted district authorities the power to make quick decisions based on local weather threats. The government has stressed the importance of utilizing digital learning platforms to ensure academic continuity, particularly in vulnerable areas.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts until July 9, schools in Himachal Pradesh are preparing for prolonged disruptions, relying on online education and remote management to address the ongoing crisis.