Schools shut as life cripples in Gurgaon

Most of the city schools declared a holiday on Friday morning while others tweaked dispersal timings after reports of water logging and traffic jams were received from major parts of Gurgaon after Thursday’s downpour.

Most of the city schools declared a holiday on Friday morning while others tweaked dispersal timings after reports of water logging and traffic jams were received from major parts of Gurgaon after Thursday’s downpour.

By the time schools declared a holiday, many students had reached their designated bus stops on Friday morning.(Rashpal Singh/HT Photo)

The state government had already declared two days off - July 29 and 30 - for the city schools as an advisory issued on Friday morning.

“Further, district education officer (DEO) is directed to request all schools to close for 29 and 30 July due to pot holes and open manholes wherever situated in perspective of public safety,” stated the order.

Schools including The HDFC School, DAV Public School Sector 48, Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, GD Goenka sector 48, The Ardee World School and primary wing of Delhi Public School in Sector 47 informed parents through text messages, emails and also on social media about the holiday on Friday.

The schools said that since all the roads were flooded with water, it was safe for the students to stay indoors.

“The school had sent messages to the parents informing them about the sudden holiday. The messages were conveyed to them by 6.45 am today. We do not want to take a risk with the children’s security,” said Anita Makkar, principal, The HDFC School, sector 57.

However, parents said that the schools did not inform them on-time. A few complained of waiting at bus stops flooded with knee-deep water waiting for the school buses.

A parent whose child studies at GD Goenka, sector 48, said, “GD Goenka Sector 48 informed us that the school is closed due to unprecedented rainfall. However, a few parents were frazzled as not all of the messages were received on time and the students were already on the bus stops waiting.”

A student who studies in Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok said, “The school did not inform us before declaring a holiday. My father battled the traffic jams and water to drop me to the school but the gates were closed.”

Other schools like Delhi Public School, sector 45, Ryan International School, Lotus Valley International School, Scottish High International School, Shiv Nadar School and Ajanta Public School are working. The officials from the institutes claimed that the attendance was up to the mark.

“Friday is a normal working day for the school. Most of our students have come and regular classes are in order,” said Anita Malhotra, principal, Lotus Valley International School, Sector 50.

However, the principals stated that the school would have declared a holiday if the government’s notification was received earlier. But the school heads are now announcing early dispersal and even checking routes with comparatively low traffic volume.

Peeya Sharma, principal of Ryan International School, sector 40, said, “Most of our students are attending the school but the buses reached at least two hours late. The local administration should have informed us earlier about declaring a holiday. We received a message at around 7.30 am, it was too late.”

“We cancelled the monthly test which was scheduled for today (Friday) seeing the condition of the city. An early dispersal, by 12 pm, has also been announced by the school so that the students are able to reach home on time,” said Vaibhav Kapoor, Managing Director, Ajanta Public School, Gurgaon..