Tree damages school office building at Silchar

From Our Correspondent

Silchar, Feb 1: A gigantic tree of about 200 years old, situated at the premises of the historic Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Silchar, got uprooted on Thursday and fell upon the School’s office room at around 7 am. It has damaged all the adjacent rooms of the office building which include vice principal’s room, teachers’ common room and toilets. Almirahs, bookcases, tables, chairs and other furniture as well as stationery items have been damaged to a large extent. Talking to The Sentinel, Dr Bibhash Deb, president of the School Magement Development Committee (SMDC) said, “Parbin Sulta Laskar, principal of the School, informed me about the incident. We informed all the authorities concerned. It is very unfortute that nobody has turned up for helping us.”

 Dr Bibhash Deb said, “She informed the departments of Education and Forest. We have also submitted written complaints to the Divisiol Forest Officer, the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police, Assam State Electricity Board, fire brigade authorities and the District Disaster Magement Authority. I persolly discussed the issue with Dr S Lakshman, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, over the telephone and MLA Dilip Kumar Paul, Deputy Speaker of Assam Assembly. The Deputy Speaker is in Guwahati and told me that he would persolly discuss with the DC”.

 It was around noon when the personnel of the department of forest came and assured that they would send people for lifting the massive branch and other related repair works. “But they told funding is an issue here. Though the school authority is ready to bear all expenses, no repair work has been started yet. It is impossible to lift the colossal branch without a JCB,” Dr Deb added to say. “Fortutely enough, there has been no casualty. We actually wanted the tree to be declared as heritage. But, it seems out of question now. Its branches are falling apart,” said Ranjita Debdutta, vice principal of the School.

 Uttam Kumar Saha, vice president of the SMDC expressed his concern at the ensuing HSLC and HS examitions. “Considering this fact, the authorities concerned should take immediate and war footing steps. Examitions will start from February 16. It is saddening that nobody has turned up for assisting us,” Uttam Kumar Saha added to say.