Anantnag, Feb 26: A government primary school building in Malipora, Ranipora, under the Shangus zone of Anantnag district, was gutted in a late-night fire incident on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to the structure and school records, officials said.
A Fire and Emergency Services official said the single-storey government primary school, with a GCI sheet roof, was engulfed in flames. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but the roofing, ceiling, doors, windows, and office records were all damaged in the blaze.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that he has been briefed about the incident and has instructed the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) and ascertain the cause of the fire.
“A cylinder blast occurred inside the building, causing severe damage,” he said, adding, “School records have also been destroyed, and all three rooms of the building were gutted.”
He assured that alternative arrangements would be made for the students as schools are set to reopen soon. “It is our responsibility to ensure accommodation for the students, and we will make necessary arrangements at the earliest,” he added.
Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Shangus, Altaf Hussain visited the school and confirmed that the building had suffered extensive damage, with school materials, including official records, destroyed in the blaze.
He said the police had been informed and would conduct an investigation. “The three-room building has been reduced to ashes,” he said. “The school was operating under the SSA scheme and has 40 students enrolled in the current academic session. It is a primary school,” the ZEO said.
“We now request the government to help rebuild the school and provide alternative accommodation for the students, as schools are set to reopen within a few days,” he added.
