Cautious reopening of schools in border areas as normalcy returns to J&K

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: With normalcy returning along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border in J&K after days of shelling, all educational institutions reopened on Wednesday in non-border areas of Jammu. However, in frontier districts, educational institutes in only selected areas will be opened on Thursday. In Kashmir, too, all schools, barring those in areas in close proximity to the LoC, have reopened.

Officials said schools and colleges had been shut for nearly a week after Pakistan escalated tension following Operation Sindoor on May 7, and resorted to heavy artillery and mortar firing in civilian areas.

“So far, the overall situation is peaceful but as a preventive measure, educational institutions are still closed in the border belts, the decision on which will be taken soon,” said an official in Jammu.

The office of Jammu divisional commissioner (DC) said schools in Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban, which are non-border districts, had reopened. “However, all educational institutions, both private and govt, will remain closed in Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Samba and Udhampur, which lie close to the border,” the DC posted on X on Wednesday.

In an order issued Wednesday, Jammu’s director, school education, specified the areas in frontier districts where schools, both govt and private, will remain closed or reopen on May 15. R S Pura and Akhnoor in Jammu; Manjakote, Nowshera, and Sunderbani in Rajouri; and Mankote, Mendhar and Balakote in Poonch are among the sectors in which educational institutes will remain closed on May 15, according to the order.

Bhalwal and Chowki Choura in Jammu, Barnoti and Ghagwal in Kathua, and Surankote in Poonch are among the sectors in which schools will open.

Zonal education officers have been instructed to ensure that the safety and security guidelines are strictly adhered to in their jurisdictions.

In the Valley, official sources said schools in areas close to the border/LoC will remain closed on Thursday as a precautionary measure, and will be reopened only after a security clearance from police.

In Kupwara district, schools in Karnah, Keran, Machil, Kumkadi, Budnambal and Jumagund will remain suspended on May 15. All govt and private institutes in the border areas of Jhulla, Chandanwari and Boniyar in Baramulla district and Gurez in Bandipora district will also remain shut.