Wahid Rafeeqi

Gurez, Nov 23 (KNS): The students in remote Gurez valley of north Kashmir's Bandipora district are made to suffer in the absence of proper heating arrangements in classrooms amid bone-chilling cold weather conditions, locals said here on Tuesday. 

The locals told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the students are made to suffer as the authorities have failed to make proper heating arrangements in classrooms even as cold weather conditions continue to persist in the area. 

They said that the temperature remains below subzero during winter months in Gurez and it mandatory for the education department to make proper heating arrangements for the schools, but they are functioning without being provided heating facilities, thereby making students suffer a lot. 

Meanwhile, students also alleged that the schools there have no arrangement of lighting as well and they are suffering as it becomes difficult for them to study in darkness amid bone-chilling cold.

The locals alleged that due to subzero temperature children fall sick in the absence of proper heating arrangements in their schools. "So, teachers and locals themselves try to provide heating facilities to the students as the authorities have failed to come to their rescue," they said. 

"Our children's health is at risk due to the irresponsibility of the education department. The department should immediately provide heating facilities to these as the students have faced huge losses due to the Covid-19 lockdown last year," said a local resident. 

Meanwhile, they appealed to the authorities to look into the matter on urgent basis, so that studies of their children won't get affected. 

When contacted, chief education officer Bandipora, Abdul Roub Shad told KNS that heating facilities for schools in Gurez is the need of the hour and he will take up the matter with the concerned people to ensure early redressal of the issue. (KNS)