MEPPADI: Schools in Wayanad are set to reopen on Tuesday following the closure of relief camps that were housing disaster victims. The official entry ceremony for students, attended by ministers, is scheduled for September 2. This marks a significant step in the region’s recovery process after the devastating landslides.
Meppadi Govt. Higher Secondary School, St. Joseph Girls Higher Secondary School, the partially destroyed Mundakkai Govt LP School, and Vellarmala Govt Higher Secondary School are among the institutions that will resume classes. Vellarmala School, which lost its building in the tragedy, will temporarily operate out of Meppadi School, accommodating its 600 students until the rehabilitation process is complete. Mundakkai LP School, with 44 students, will function from the Panchayat Hall.
Tragically, more than 50 students from these schools went missing during the landslide, underscoring the depth of the disaster’s impact. The new building for Vellarmala School, which will eventually be relocated to the resettlement village, will retain its original name.
Ahead of the reopening, schools and their premises have been thoroughly cleaned, and new textbooks along with necessary furniture have been provided to the students. The first day’s session will include programs focused on disaster survival, with an emphasis on ensuring the children’s emotional well-being as they return to school after witnessing such a tragic event.
To facilitate the students’ commute, two buses will offer free transportation from Chooralmala to the schools. Additionally, KSRTC and private buses from different parts of the district will operate free services to support the reopening.
