Srinagar: More than 450 government and private educational institutions are presently serving as quarantine centres in the Kashmir valley.
Due to the surge in positive cases, more educational institutions and other government buildings are been converted into quarantine centres to accommodate people with COVID-19 symptoms.
District-wise data accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveals that there are more than 400, middle, high and higher secondary schools which have been converted into makeshift quarantine centres.
More than 50 government degree colleges too have been converted into makeshift quarantine centres across Kashmir.
South Kashmir’s Anantnag district tops the list with 155 government schools and seven government degree colleges serving as makeshift quarantine centres.
In District Kulgam, 100 government schools and four government degree colleges have been converted into makeshift quarantine centres.
Likewise, one government school, two private schools, one government Gujjar Bakarwal hostel, and two degree colleges have been turned into makeshift quarantine centres in Shopian.
In Pulwama district, four government, seven private schools, and four degree colleges are serving as quarantine centres. In Budgam district, 45 government schools and six government degree colleges are serving as makeshift quarantine centres.
Sainik School and two degree colleges in the Ganderbal district have been converted into makeshift quarantine centres.
No government school has been converted into a quarantine centre in Srinagar. However, 10 degree colleges are serving as quarantine centres in the summer capital city.
Likewise, in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, around 67 government high and higher secondary schools have been identified for quarantine centres. Five government degree colleges are currently serving as quarantine centres.
In Bandipora district, five government schools, nine private schools, and five degree colleges are serving as quarantine centres. However, no government school in Baramulla has been converted into a quarantine centre. Three private schools and seven degree colleges are serving as makeshift quarantine centres in the district.
An officials in the school education department said there is no order for converting all government schools into quarantine centres. “If there is a surge in COVID-19 cases, then we have to follow orders and keep school buildings ready for any emergency,” he said.
