Engineering audits essential for safe J&K schools post-floods: Raman Suri

JAMMU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) executive member Raman Suri today asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to prioritize student safety by entrusting school safety audits to qualified Public Works Department (PWD) engineers, rather than relying solely on teachers and principals. While acknowledging the government’s recent directive as a positive step, Suri described it as a “half-hearted effort” that falls short of addressing the complex structural risks posed by recent floods.

In a statement released today, Suri emphasized the need for expert intervention to evaluate school infrastructure, highlighting potential hazards such as cracks in buildings, damaged approach roads, and the precarious locations of many schools on hillsides or side slopes. “The decision to recall teachers and principals to conduct initial safety audits before reopening schools for students is fine in intent, as it demonstrates a commitment to resuming education safely,” Suri said.

“However, this approach is insufficient and risks overlooking critical vulnerabilities that only trained engineers can properly assess.” Suri pointed out that educationists, while dedicated to their roles, lack the technical expertise required for thorough structural evaluations. “Teachers and principals are not equipped to gauge the integrity of buildings affected by floods, especially in geologically sensitive areas like hillsides where landslides or erosion could compromise safety,” he explained.

“Assigning this responsibility to PWD engineers would ensure more accurate and reliable reports, drawing on their domain knowledge in civil engineering and infrastructure assessment.” The BJP leader advocated for this initiative to serve as the foundation for a long-term safety audit program, enabling future planning and preventive measures. “Even if immediate repairs are not feasible due to resource constraints, conducting these audits now will provide the government with a clear roadmap of necessary interventions,” Raman Suri noted.

“Post-flood assessments would simultaneously catalog damages, allowing for targeted reconstruction efforts and better resource allocation in the coming months.” Underlining that the safety of students must remain the utmost priority, Suri called on the administration to act swiftly. “Our children are the future of Jammu and Kashmir, and we cannot afford to compromise their well-being for expediency,” he stated.

“The government should immediately redirect this task to PWD engineers, incorporating their findings into a comprehensive recovery plan. This is not just about reopening schools—it’s about building resilient educational infrastructure that withstands future disasters.” Suri also encouraged community involvement, suggesting that local stakeholders, including parents and school management committees, be consulted during the audit process to foster transparency and trust.