Maharashtra: Nisarga smites 1,540 schools, loss pegged at Rs 27.92 crore

PUNE: The education department is grappling with the loss to school infrastructure caused by Cyclone Nisarga that hit the state on June 3.
The assessment report indicates damage to 1,540 schools in six districts. The engineering department has estimated the loss at more than Rs 27.92 crore. Officials said efforts are on to repair the schools before July.

Raigad with 938 schools was worst-hit followed by Ratnagiri (289) and Pune (254). Roofs were destroyed or blown away in most of the damaged schools. The rain also damaged LCD TVs or computers, books and other study material that schools are equipped with.
In Pune district, schools in Mulshi, Maval and Khed talukas suffered the maximum. “ The panchnama assessed the damage in each area. In some parts, walls of buildings have been damaged. In most cases, the roofs were damaged, and water entered the school and laid to waste the study material,” a senior official from the education department said.
Efforts were on to complete the repair work so that there is no delay when schools reopen next month.
Education commissioner Vishal Solanki said, “The revenue department would be funding these repairs. We have requested the government to release funds on priority as it is a pre-requisite to open the schools.”