MANANG, JUNE 26

Floods triggered by incessant rains in Manang have largely damaged schools, leaving students, teachers, and guardians in distress. Of the four secondary schools in Manang district, three have been badly damaged by the floods.

Lokpriya Secondary School at Chame is at high risk of being swept away after the flooded Marsyangdi River changed its course and started eroding the land near the school building.

Manoj Gurung, an eighth grader at Thoche-based Prakash Jyoti Secondary School, expressed doubts that he would be able to see the school building after the monsoon.

Ninth grader Priya Gurung laments that the floods destroyed the school in their locality making it difficult for them to continue their studies. "Floods have destroyed our homes as well as school," she added. Bhanu Secondary School at Talgaun of Naso Rural Municipality has been inundated by the flood in the Marsyangdi River. "The entire village is under water,'' said locals.

Education Development and Coordination Unit Chief Narayan Yogi said only one secondary school in the district was safe so far. The disaster caused a massive damage to three schools in the district and reconstruction of these schools is not possible in the near future.

It is likely that Manang folks may have to send their kids to other schools away from their homes as the schools in the locality have been damaged due to floods and landslides.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 27 2021, of The Himalayan Times.