Assam to resume classes in flood-hit Sivasagar, Charaideo from Aug 10
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Assam government has announced the resumption of classroom teaching in flood-affected districts, including Sivasagar and Charaideo, from 10 August 2025, even as restoration work continues at dozens of damaged school campuses across the region. The phased restart is designed to limit further loss of academic time for students whose schooling has already been disrupted by the recent floods.
What the Government Announced
State Education Minister Ranoj Pegu confirmed on Thursday, 6 August that the decision was taken to minimise academic disruption and bring students back to learning without waiting for all school buildings to be fully restored. Pegu acknowledged, however, that a simultaneous reopening of every institution would not be feasible — particularly in areas where campuses remain submerged, waterlogged, or buried under mud and debris.
Schools that are not yet safe or fit to accommodate students will remain closed until conditions improve, the minister clarified.
Alternative Arrangements for Students
For students whose schools remain inaccessible or damaged, the Education Department has outlined two interim measures. First, classes may be organised at relief camps in severely affected locations, enabling students to attend lessons while their school buildings are cleaned and restored. Second, students from damaged institutions may be accommodated at nearby functional schools that are ready to reopen from 10 August.
The department's phased strategy seeks to balance the urgency of restoring regular teaching with the practical challenges on the ground, especially in areas where floodwaters have only recently receded.
Scale of Flood Damage to Schools
Several school campuses across Sivasagar and Charaideo have been significantly impacted by floodwaters, with classrooms and grounds requiring extensive cleaning before students can safely return. The floods have left a trail of damage at educational institutions that, in many cases, were also pressed into service as relief shelters during the crisis.
This is not the first time Assam's academic calendar has been thrown off course by annual flooding — the state's river systems, including the Brahmaputra, routinely inundate low-lying districts during the monsoon, making educational continuity a recurring challenge for authorities.
What Happens Next
Pegu said the state government is working to restore normal teaching activities gradually and to prepare affected school premises for full reopening at the earliest opportunity. Temporary learning arrangements will remain in place wherever regular school infrastructure is unavailable, ensuring that students do not lose further classroom time because of the disaster.
The Education Department has indicated it will monitor ground conditions district by district, with restoration timelines expected to vary depending on the extent of flood damage at individual schools.