VIKAS SHARMA
JAMMU, SEPT 2: While schools across the Jammu Division have remained in focus due to torrential rains, higher education institutions too have suffered massive damage.
Unlike schools—where the Directorate of School Education, Jammu (DSEJ) issues daily advisories regarding closure and reopening—no such mechanism exists for colleges, leaving administrators and students in a state of uncertainty.
A blanket order was issued a few days ago by the J&K Government, mandating the closure of all government offices, including colleges. However, in most cases, decisions about reopening and functioning have been left to individual principals.
Viral videos recently highlighted the plight of college students in Jammu, wading through knee-deep water with bags on their heads to protect books and electronic devices. Several degree colleges, including Government MAM College and GGM Science College, reported severe waterlogging that disrupted regular classes as well as examinations.
“Unlike schools, no regular advisory is issued by the Higher Education Department regarding college closures. We are deeply concerned about the safety of students and staff,” said Dr. Romesh Gupta, Principal, GGM Science College, while speaking to IMCSD Herald.
He added that he monitors weather reports and takes local inputs before allowing students to attend classes. “Just today, SHO Nowabad informed me about the rising water level in the Tawi river. We immediately vacated the college to ensure safety,” he said.
The campus, according to Dr. Gupta, continues to struggle with mud and silt left behind by floodwaters, and clearance work is still underway. Similar scenes were reported from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)-Jammu, where waterlogging had inundated university premises. Officials said complete restoration may take another 15–20 days.
Sources revealed that at least 20 government colleges in Jammu Division bore the brunt of heavy rains, with GDC Marh, GDC Sidhra, GGM Science College, and the Old University Campus among the worst affected in Jammu district. Colleges in other districts also faced serious disruptions due to flooding and infrastructure damage.
The situation has been compounded by landslides in hilly areas, blocking several roads and preventing students from rural regions from reaching colleges in Jammu city.
Students and teachers have appealed to the administration for long-term measures, pointing out that waterlogging has become an annual ordeal.
“With the weather department predicting more rainfall in the coming days, the uncertainty faced by thousands of college students raises urgent questions about disaster preparedness and the resilience of higher education infrastructure in J&K,” higher education experts observed.
