M A I N   N E W S

LEH REVISITED
Revamp for Rancho’s school
Having learnt its lessons the hard way, Druk White Lotus School (of ‘3 Idiots’ fame) has now put in place solid flood-safety measures
Jupinderjit Singh/TNS

Shey (Leh), July 24
The Druk White Lotus School, which was catapulted to fame after it was featured in Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots and was destroyed in last year’s deadly cloudburst, is flood-resistant now. ‘Rancho’s school’, which had won many awards like ‘best green school, best earthquake resistant building, best education school, had, ironically, not put in place adequate flood safety measures and had to pay the price.

Druk White Lotus School principal Prasad Eledath plays with students. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

Left wiser by the disaster, the school has now made elaborate arrangements to save itself from floods. Also, repeated drills are being organised to enable students and teachers to reach out to safe zones in the wake of any natural calamity.

A high boundary has been constructed around the school. Also, in place is a flood alert system. Similarly, school authorities have also asked villagers staying uphill to alert them in case of floods. “We are maintaining vigil uphill. We have asked people, who stay at a higher altitude, especially at Stakmo village, to alert us. They have got phone connections and other warning systems like bells and fire shots to sound an alarm,” said Prasad Eledath, principal of the school. The school has undergone a complete makeover. There are hardly any visible signs of the nature’s wrath it had to endure in August last. A neatly dressed guard welcomes the visitors at the entrance. With many tourists coming to have a glimpse of the school, a special visitors’ room has been constructed for them.

The computer lab, which was filled with mud and debris last year, has been shifted to the first floor in another building. The room has been converted into a library. The school has 619 students. The school started nursery and LKG classes in 2000. “Now, we have upgraded to Class IX,” the principal said.

The school maintained its high standard of education despite loss of study days last year.