Incomplete school building in Soibugh leaves students struggling

By Arif Rashid
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15 Apr 2026

Srinagar, Apr 14: The construction of a two-storey government school building in Soibugh village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district remains incomplete, years after it was sanctioned under the RMSA scheme.

The delay has affected students, particularly girls, who are currently attending classes in a rented facility lacking basic amenities.

As pe local residents, the school building for Girls High School at Beigh Mohalla, Soibugh, was approved during 2014–15, with an allocation of Rs 94.05 lakh by School Education Department. The funds were subsequently transferred to R&B Division Budgam for execution of the project.

Ghulam Hassan Beigh, a local resident, said that construction work began in 2018–19 but was halted in 2019 due to irregular funding.

“The contractor stopped work after not receiving timely payments. A major portion of the funds was reportedly diverted to other projects, leaving the building incomplete,” he said.

He said nearly 70 percent of the construction has been completed, but the structure is deteriorating due to prolonged neglect. “Rainwater and snow are entering the building as the roof remains unfinished. The second floor is filled with water, and the structure is at risk of collapse,” Beigh said.

Currently, the school operates from a rented accommodation that lacks essential facilities. Students, especially girls, are forced to walk nearly a kilometre daily under challenging conditions.

Another resident said that despite being the first government school building constructed on government-owned land in the area, it remains unused.

“The government had purchased three kanals of land for this project, but the incomplete structure has now become a hub for anti-social activities, including drug use and smoking,” he said.

Residents have urged School Education Department and Deputy Commissioner Budgam to intervene and ensure completion of the building at the earliest.

An official from the Education Department confirmed that the funds had been released to the R&B Division Budgam. However, the building has not yet been completed or handed over to the department.