Over 160 students rescued from flooded Jharkhand residential school after heavy rainfall

A rapid and coordinated rescue operation successfully evacuated 162 students who were trapped overnight in the inundated Lav Kush Residential School in Pandarsoli, East Singhbhum district, following heavy rainfall that submerged the school premises. The students, ranging from local residents to those from various parts of the district, had been stranded since Saturday night as floodwaters engulfed the single-storey school building.

Upon realizing the extent of the flooding, teachers quickly moved all students to the rooftop, where they spent the night awaiting assistance. The alarm was raised around 5:30 AM on Sunday, prompting an immediate response from police officers and fire brigade teams. With the crucial help of local villagers, rescuers used boats to safely bring the students out one by one. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rishabha Garg confirmed that while the NDRF was requisitioned, the police and villagers completed the rescue before their arrival. Kowali police station Officer-in-charge Dhananjay Paswan stated that the school has been closed until further notice, and arrangements are being made to send all students to their respective homes.

Meanwhile, the district administrations of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan have issued a high alert in view of a potential sudden increase in water levels in the Kharkhai and Subarnarekha rivers, exacerbated by continuous rainfall and the possible release of water from the Rairangpur dam in Odisha. East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Karn Satyarthi has urged residents in catchment areas to remain vigilant and adhere to administrative advisories, while Seraikela-Kharsawan Deputy Commissioner Nitish Kumar Singh has directed officials to identify sensitive zones, particularly submerged areas near rivers and the Chandil dam, and to alert the public via address systems. Health centers have also been put on alert with mobile medical units and ambulances prepared for emergencies.

In light of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) warning for heavy rainfall in several districts over the next few days, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday instructed officials of the disaster management department and all district administrations to maintain constant coordination with the weather department, remain alert, and ensure timely assistance to the public in all situations. An 'orange alert' has been issued for districts including Khunti, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Saraikela-Kharswan, and West Singhbhum for June 30, with a similar alert for Gumla, Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Latehar, and Lohardaga on July 1.