Meghalaya's oldest school that withstood the 'Great earthquake' of 1897 has been reduced to ashes in a devastating fire, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit.
Six classrooms, a laboratory and the office room of the Cherra Presbyterian Secondary School, established here in 1847, were destroyed in the fire and innumerable antique photographs and documents were lost in the inferno, headmistress V M D Waanbah told PTI.
The office chowkidar, a woman, reported the fire at around 2 AM on Thursday but the fire-brigade reached the school one and half hours later though it is located in less than a km away, Waanbah alleged.
By the time the fire tenders reached the school, most of the school's property was reduced to ashes, she said adding that a large number of furniture and three computers were also lost in the fire.
Most importantly, the school lost all its records kept right from 1847 when the institution was set up, as well as the other land and office documents.
Photographs of the school's founders were among the valuable possessions gutted in the fire, Waanbah said.
The pre-Board examination that has been going on in the school was also called off after the incident.
However, the headmistress said, education of over 200 students studying in the school will not be affected as classes can be held in the annexed buildings while effort is on to construct a new building to replace the old one.
Fire brigade officials said it might have been caused by short circuit in one of the rooms.
The Welsh Mission had established the school in 1847 in a stone walled tin roofed house, which is now gone. It was later handed over to the Cherra Presbyterian Church.
Many eminent personalities of the state took their early education in the school and Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy is one such alumnus.
Mr. Bajla further added, "Creating waste diversion
and recycling programs not only creates a positive impact in schools but also optimizes the importance of hygiene and sanitation in our vicinity. We wish to set an example for other schools and encourage them to 'Go Green'." Taurian World School [http://www.Tws.Edu.In ] has also adopted other eco-friendly measures for a cleaner environment. To reduce their power consumption costs, the school has rooftop solar power solutions for heating water at the student hostel and the staff quarters.
Taurian World School also consists of an in-house dairy and the cattle are fed with leftover vegetables. The cow dung and urine are used as fertilizers for farming. Taurian World School will also initiate a project for rainwater harvesting across the campus in the next few months.
Taurian World School, lays emphasis on multicultural exposure and diversity to nature and
society, teaching values, encouraging creativity, communications, extra-curricular activities, and infrastructure for the overall development of students. Affiliated with CBSE, Taurian World
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