Tornado victims forced to study under open sky

BARA, June 5: Students of Nepal Rastriya Prathamik Vidyalaya of Pheta Rural Municipality have been forced to study under the open sky after their school building collapsed due to a tornado which struck the area two months ago. 

The tornado, which struck on March 31, completely destroyed the school building, after which the students of kindergarten to grade 3 were forced to study under the open sky.

Principal Manoj Kumar Sah said, “Over 100 students have been studying under the open sky for over 2 months.”
In the absence of a proper building, all students have been studying in a single place. Classes are held from early morning till 9 am. “This timing is suitable as the sun's rays aren't strong enough,” Sah said adding, “Then, the classes are dismissed as the heat is intolerable.”

District Education Office, Bara had helped the school build four temporary classrooms under two sheds.
However, the sheds have already been damaged by strong winds so it isn't safe to accommodate students in those classrooms, according to Sah.

One of the dilapidated rooms is used to accommodate army men who have been building shelters for the victims of the area. 

The school, which was built in 2047 BS, has students enrolled from pre-school to grade 5. There are a total of 300 students. 

The students are currently studying without benches and desks. They simply rely on a thin mat laid on the ground. Classes are cancelled when it rains, according to students.

Sabina Khatun, a third grader, complains that she hasn't been able to study properly since the tornado struck. She says that there is too much noise and disturbance outside.

Chairman of ward-4 of Feta Rural Municipality Hussain Miya has requested the concerned authorities to take necessary action for reconstruction of the school.