‘Fort’ school on verge of collapse
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Poonch, January 10
It may sound bizarre, but it is true. At a time when the state government takes pride for upgrading schools across the state, a higher secondary school at the district headquarters here is being run from a historical monument. The Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Poonch, runs from a historical monument “Shesh Mahal.”

Established in the 1980’s, the school has got its name from the famous fort of Shesh Mahal.

The school was once the palace of Dogra kings who ruled the state till India secured Independence from the British in August 1947. Later, former Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah handed over the fort to the school on April 20, 1980.

After the 2005 earthquake, the school’s building was badly damaged. Since then it has been a major cause of worry for students who feel that the school’s building can tumble down anytime.

“It hardly makes a difference that we are studying in a fort, but the fact that the building is badly damaged and can crash down anytime has been a cause of worry for us,” said Rabia Bano, a student. “It is quite risky here.”

“We heard that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had promised starting the reconstruction of our school, but nothing in this regard had been done so far,” she added.

A senior officer in the district administration admitted that the Shesh Mahal building was quite risky for students and needed repairs.

Meanwhile, director, school education, Avtar Krishan Raina admitted that the building was damaged and needed repair and renovation. “We have proposed repair and renovation of the building,” the director said.