Ghaziabad: At least 24 govt schools across Ghaziabad remain exposed to electrical safety hazards, with high-tension power lines running over classrooms, playgrounds and toilets, and transformers positioned close to entrances or boundary walls.A list prepared by the basic education department and shared with the power department recently shows the schools are spread across four blocks — six each in Loni, Bhojpur and Muradnagar, and five in Rajapur. Of these, 15 have high-tension lines passing directly over their campuses, while in some, electricity poles stand on the school campuses.At two schools in Rajapur, high-tension lines pass directly over the main entrance, while a live wire runs over the boundary wall and across the school campus in Muradnagar’s composite school (CS) Bhoorgarhi. Teachers said the risk intensifies during the monsoon, as strong winds and rain can bring tree branches into contact with live wires, raising the chances of snapping, sparking or current leakage.“Many of these power lines pass over playgrounds, toilets or open assembly areas where children gather. During heavy rain and strong winds, tree branches often get entangled with the wires, increasing the risk of snapping, sparking or current leakage. Students are naturally curious and often play close to these areas,” a teacher at one of the affected schools said.Another teacher at primary school Bhoorgarhi said an 11,000-volt high-tension line passed directly above the main entrance to their campus. “About two years ago, a line snapped and got entangled in a tree branch amid rain, but it happened on a Sunday when the school was closed. The electricity department was informed immediately and repairs were carried out, though the larger safety concern remained,” the teacher said.Education officials said partial shifting work has already been completed following earlier requests, but a significant number of schools remain vulnerable.Basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) OP Yadav told TOI that last year, a list of schools was sent to the electricity department and corrective work was carried out at more than 15 schools, in phases. “This year, a fresh list of schools has again been sent to the electricity department,” he said.The list includes upper primary schools (UPS) Nistoli, Chirori, Atroli, Manauli and Dhindar, and primary schools (PS) Lutfullapur, Bhoopkheri, Khora, Dharoti Khurd, Sikri Khurd-2, Shajhapur, Mahmadpur, Atroli, Sikraud, Nigravati, Nidori, Manauli, Khurrampur 1, Vihang and Mangawali, and composite schools Bhojpur, Usmanghadi, Shamsher and Bhoorgarhi.A status report issued by the education department states high-tension lines were removed from primary schools (PS) Khurrampur-1 and Manauli, among others. A senior education department official, however, told TOI that in some schools, the power department only shifted the transformers, but left the overhead lines to run across the campus, with the conductors covered in yellow insulating sleeves as a temporary safety measure rather than a permanent solution. At PS Dhindar, the officials said, the high-tension line still passes directly over the campus despite the first phase of work. Only the transformer has been shifted to a corner of the premises.The education department’s letter comes days after heavy rainfall prompted the district administration to shut schools across Ghaziabad last week as a precaution, amid forecasts of thunderstorms and strong winds.A senior official from the electricity department said action was underway. “A new list has been received from the education department, which is currently being sent to the state. Based on the instructions, the power department will remove the lines,” the official said.
