During the construction of the Khalanga-Baluwasangrahi road, two school buildings in Salyan have been identified as being at risk of landslides. Mahadev Basic School in Bangadkupinde Municipality-8 Jamire and Baljagrut Basic School in Bagchaur Municipality-12 Okhreni are the schools identified as being in the landslide risk zone.
In the process of road construction, mudslides started to occur above and below the area where the schools are located. Kamal Acharya, principal of Mahadev Basic School shared his concerns about difficulties in operating the school due to the risk of landslides on rainy days.
He says, “ Three meters of school’s land has been incorporated into the road during its construction, which has increased the risk of collapsing of the building. The school building trembles when vehicles or bulldozers pass through the road.”
The school which conducts classes from grade 1 to grade 5, has over 70 students. The school has two older buildings and one new building, among which the new building falls in the risk zone.
Bir Bahadur Oli, principal of Baljagrut Basic School, says that the school was out under risk of landslides after the road was dug up in the proximity of a river that flows directly under the school. According to him, about three years ago landslides had occurred both below and above the school location.
According to him, even though the school has requested the municipality to put up a concrete wall and wire-web, the children studying in the school would be much safer if the school is completely relocated.
