A two-storeyed building of a 58-year-old government-run high school in the Old Berhampur area of Odisha has fallen into a severely dilapidated condition, exposing students and teachers to life-threatening hazards. The concrete ceiling of the Municipal High School building is crumbling, with chunks frequently falling off and exposing rusted iron rods. Despite repeated complaints about the deteriorating state of the building to the concerned authorities, no repairs have been carried out, according to parents.
School Infrastructure and Student Enrollment
Approximately 500 students, ranging from Shishu Vatika (pre-schooling) to Class X, are enrolled in the school, which comprises two buildings. While primary classes are conducted in a building that is in relatively better condition, classes from VI to X are held in the dilapidated structure, sources confirmed.
Headmistress Pramila Patnaik stated, "The condition of the building has been in a dilapidated shape for the past year-and-a-half." She added that the school authorities have lodged complaints with higher authorities regarding the building's condition, but no action has been taken so far.
MP's Intervention and Call for Urgent Action
Expressing deep concern, Berhampur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy has written a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging immediate repairs to ensure the safety of students and teachers. In his letter, Panigrahy noted, "During my visit to the school on September 17 last year, several parents complained about the condition of the building. Since it has not been repaired, I request you to take immediate steps to rebuild it for the safety of students before any untoward incident occurs."
He further warned that during the monsoon season, rainwater is likely to stagnate on the roof and leak into the classroom ceilings, thereby weakening the walls. Panigrahy recommended that officials from the district administration, the district education officer, and engineers from the Berhampur Municipal Corporation visit the school to conduct a safety audit and take steps to rebuild it before the monsoon sets in.
Response from Education Department
Ganjam District Education Officer (DEO) Ajay Kumar Patra stated that the matter has been taken up seriously. He confirmed that classes are no longer being held in the rooms on the first floor of the building. "We will take up the matter with appropriate authorities, such as the works department, to declare it unsafe and to rebuild the building," Patra added.
