Acute erosion by the Ganga that has robbed hundreds of families in Kaliachak 3 block in Malda off the roofs has taken away the right of over 600 school students to attend their classes.

State-aided schools had started physical classes for students studying from Class IX to Class XII on November 16.

But the authorities of Chamagram high school are yet to start physical classes for their students. Families who lost their homes to the erosion are staying at the school.

Since June, the Ganga had been gobbling up chunks of agricultural land in different locations of the block. This has left hundreds of families homeless. Around 120 families — over 500 people — have been staying at the school building ever since they have lost their houses, agricultural land and other belongings.

According to local sources, the school has 18 rooms, 16 of which are used as classrooms. They have said two to three families share a room.

“Along with them, another 70 families are staying in the corridor and at other places of the building. It is obvious that we are in a fix. On one hand, they have nowhere to go. On the other hand, we could not resume classes according to the instructions of the state education department,” headmaster Shaktipada Sarkar said.

Altogether, there are 1,600 students, 600 of whom are in classes IX, X, XI and XII.

Sarkar said students and teachers visited the school every day to know when the classes would start. “We do not have specific answer for them. We have already taken up the matter with the block administration and are waiting for their intervention,” the headmaster added.

Some residents of the area have said in the current situation, there are two alternatives. Either the families have to be shifted to some other place like flood shelters or community halls or the students have to be sent to some other school nearby so that they can attend physical classes.

“There is, however, a problem as a number of students come from far-flung places and if they are asked to go to another school, the distance is an issue and so is the accommodation in classrooms as physical distancing has to be maintained because the Covid-19 pandemic is not yet over,” said a senior teacher.

The block administration, too, is concerned over the situation and is searching for a plot where they can build temporary huts for the homeless families.

“We are aware of the situation and desperately searching for an alternative accommodation for the erosion victims. Once they are shifted, classes can resume at the school,” Kaliachak 3 block development officer Mamun Aktar said.