DSEK Issues Safety Advisory for Schools Amid Cloudburst and Flood Risks
Srinagar, Aug 18 (ProKashmiri.in): The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has issued a fresh safety advisory for all schools across the Valley, directing heads of institutions to strictly follow safety measures in view of the recent cloudburst tragedies and heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir. The order, issued under No. DSEK/CEW/25/4541-4546 and dated 18-08-2025, stresses that schools must remain alert, prepared, and accountable to ensure the protection of students and staff during extreme weather conditions.
According to the advisory, Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Heads of Institutions (HOIs) have been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance, especially in vulnerable areas prone to flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides. Teachers and staff are required to be trained in safety drills and evacuation procedures so that they can act quickly if an emergency arises. The Directorate has asked that schools treat these directions as binding and not optional.
For schools located close to rivers, lakes, or streams, the order lays down more specific steps. Institutions must set up systems to regularly monitor water levels and weather updates. Evacuation plans should be ready and practiced in advance, with clearly marked safe areas where children and staff can be moved if water levels rise suddenly. Schools have also been asked to stay in close touch with local authorities, disaster management teams, and police to get timely guidance and assistance when needed.
The Directorate has also underlined the issue of accountability. Any lapse in following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be treated as a serious failure. If an untoward incident occurs due to negligence, the personal responsibility will fall on the concerned Head of Institution. Officials have made it clear that such failures will not be tolerated and strict action will follow.
This advisory has been circulated to all Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir, the Divisional Commissioner, Joint Directors of DSEK, and Chief Education Officers for immediate compliance. The Minister for School Education and the Civil Secretariat have also been informed about the steps being taken.
The move comes at a time when Kashmir has witnessed two major cloudburst tragedies within a week. In Kishtwar’s Chositi village, a cloudburst during the Machail Mata pilgrimage claimed over 65 lives, leaving hundreds injured and missing. Just days later, Kathua district was hit by another cloudburst, leading to flash floods and a landslide that killed seven people and caused large-scale damage to roads and infrastructure. These incidents have underlined the urgent need for stronger safety measures, especially in schools located in flood-prone belts.
Officials have also urged parents and local communities to cooperate with schools and ensure that children understand basic safety drills. Regular communication between schools and families is seen as essential so that warnings and weather alerts can reach everyone in time.
The Directorate has ended the advisory with a strong message: schools must implement these safety guidelines in both letter and spirit. With unpredictable weather patterns becoming more frequent in the Valley, the focus now is on saving lives and protecting students, staff, and school infrastructure from natural disasters.
