From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: In a tragic event, fire engulfed the Lawbyrtun Government Upper Primary School in West Khasi Hills in the wee hours of Monday. The school caters to about 200 students and runs classes from Class A to Class VIII.
The fire was noticed by villagers at about 4 am. By then the building was almost charred. The RCC building, however, withstood the blaze but developed cracks from the intense heat.
All the desks, benches, documents and exam papers were reduced to ashes. The motor cycle of one of the teachers parked in the vicinity was also damaged in the fire.
Teachers and villagers say that the ceiling of the classrooms was made of ply-wood which might have helped the inferno from spreading.
JF Lyngdoh, Sirdar of Lawbyrtun, informed this correspondent that the school was supplied with 5 KW power and the cause of the fire could be an electric short circuit. He informed that the loss incurred in the fire was estimated to be Rs 50 lakh.
On Monday, students came to the school to sit for their annual examination, only to find that their school had been razed to the ground. The school authorities have informed that the venue and the date of the remaining exams would have to be altered and the same would be announced shortly.
Later in the day, local legislator Hopingstone Lyngdoh visited the spot and assured the headmaster of the school that aid would be made available soon.
It may be noted that Lyngdoh had played a role in establishment of the school and is considered to be its founder.