Amid rising India-Pakistan tensions, Dehradun's Doon & Welham schools allow students to return home
In an email to parents Thursday evening, Doon School Headmaster Jagpreet Singh informed that while they 'continue to be safe and secure on campus', the school had received requests from several parents wishing to bring their sons home, anticipating possible disruptions to flight services.
Multiple explosions were reported in parts of Jammu Thursday evening as Pakistan launched an aerial attack, using at least four loitering munitions, prompting several states and UTs, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, to announce closure of schools, colleges and universities for the coming days.
New Delhi: With the tensions between India and Pakistan escalating, top boarding schools in Dehradun, including The Doon School and Welham Girls' School, have allowed students to return home after receiving multiple requests from concerned parents.
'As a result, the School has decided to permit all boys whose parents wish to have them back home, to depart from campus starting at 6.00 am on Friday, May 9,' he wrote, advising parents opting for the arrangement to get in touch with their children's housemaster.
Singh further said that parents within driving distance of Dehradun could plan to collect their children by road. For others, the school will provide transportation and escorts to both Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and IGI Airport in New Delhi. 'School will also organise transport to Delhi, for those who wish to pick up their boys in Delhi,' he added, saying that full travel details would follow soon.
The headmaster also reassured parents, who preferred their sons to remain at school until the end of term: 'The School will continue to function, and all our facilities will remain operational.' He emphasised that students taking IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) and IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams will continue without disruption, and that provisions would be in place for boys who might be stranded due to flight cancellations.
'Be assured that the entire staff, both teaching and administration, is working round the clock to ensure that your sons are safe and well taken care of,' Singh said, adding that the school is in close contact with central and state authorities for updates and guidance. 'The city of Dehradun remains safe and secure and continues to function in a normal and calm manner. All essential utilities are available.'
Similarly, the principal of Welham Girls' School, Vibha Kapoor, emailed parents late Thursday, offering them the option to pick up their daughters immediately, in response to growing concerns over the tense situation at the border.
'Over the past few days, we have received several requests from concerned parents wishing to pick up their daughters from school. In light of these concerns and the escalating situation at the borders, the school is offering parents the option to collect their wards with immediate effect, should they choose to do so,' Kapoor wrote.
She also clarified that the school would remain open and continue normal operations until 17 May, the scheduled start of the summer break. 'Parents are kindly requested to inform their respective House Mistresses of the date and time they plan to pick up their wards,' she added.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: Pakistan targets Jammu with loitering munitions, airport and vital installations targeted
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