Education Restored After Landslide Destroys School in Tirthan Valley.
Shimla:
A devastating landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains had destroyed a major portion of the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) Gushaini in Banjar subdivision’s Tirthan Valley, Kullu district, disrupting the education of over 550 students. The landslide, which originated from the slopes near Koshunali Bandal village, brought down trees, boulders, and debris, completely demolishing one of the school’s main buildings and rendering the rest of the campus unsafe for use.
The incident, which occurred earlier this monsoon season, led to the suspension of academic activities for several weeks, leaving hundreds of students and teachers in uncertainty. However, in a major relief to the affected families, authorities have now approved the relocation of students to a safer facility.
Swift Action Ensures Resumption of Classes
According to Shiva Gautam, President of the School Management Committee (SMC) of GSSS Gushaini, a private building in the nearby Badidropa village has been provided free of cost for the school’s use. The building belongs to Mahender Singh Chauhan, Vice Pradhan of the Kandidhar Gram Panchayat, whose generous act has been widely appreciated by the local community, especially parents and school staff.
Senior students (Classes 9 to 12) will attend classes on the ground floor of the new facility in Badidropa, while primary-level classes will continue at the existing Gushaini Primary School building, which remains structurally safe.
Administration Steps In with Emergency Support
On a visit to the affected site, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Banjar, Pankaj Sharma, met with SMC members, Panchayat representatives, teachers, and local residents. Assuring the community of continued administrative support, SDM Sharma directed that regular offline classes be resumed immediately. He also instructed staff to conduct additional sessions—especially for Science stream students—on holidays to help compensate for the lost academic time.
Temporary arrangements have been put in place, and formal damage assessment reports have already been submitted to the concerned departments. The SMC has also proposed the construction of a new school building at a safer location to ensure long-term safety and continuity of education.
NGO Lends Crucial Support
Adding to the relief efforts, Sundernagar-based Krayash Charitable Trust extended support by donating essential educational and logistical materials. The Trust provided 200 mattresses, 1 printer, 38 books, 2 water filters, 6 blackboards, 5 chalk boxes, 6 dusters, and 20 raincoats to aid students and teachers at the temporary facility.
In addition, the Trust conducted awareness sessions on exam preparation, personal hygiene, substance abuse prevention, and reading habits. Dharmesh Sharma, founder of Krayash Charitable Trust, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting youth and education in disaster-hit regions like Tirthan Valley.
Call for Resilient Infrastructure in Vulnerable Areas
While the timely intervention by local administration and civil society has provided a temporary solution, the incident highlights a critical need for long-term investment in resilient educational infrastructure across remote and disaster-prone regions of Himachal Pradesh.
As the students of GSSS Gushaini return to classrooms under makeshift conditions, their story stands as a testament to community spirit, administrative action, and the pressing need for sustainable development in the Himalayan region.
