Representatives of local outfits meet ADM Madan Kumar seeking urgent intervention
Munish Sood
MANDI:
The 159-year-old heritage building of Vijay High School in Mandi, a historic institution symbolising the town’s educational and cultural legacy, is under serious threat due to water seepage and poor roof drainage.
Despite a Rs 4-crore restoration carried out under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) project about five years ago, the building’s wooden structure is once again showing signs of decay.
Rainwater falling directly from the roof onto the deodar wood pillars has led to continuous dampness and moss formation, weakening the structure’s foundation. The absence of a proper downpipe and drainage system is accelerating the damage. Experts warn that if the problem is not addressed immediately, this architectural heritage could suffer irreversible deterioration.
Currently, the primary school is being run temporarily from the ground floor of the building’s U-Block. Teachers, students, and local residents fear that without urgent repairs and proper water management, the building may soon become unsafe for academic use.
Built by Raja Vijay Sen in 1866
The historic Vijay High School was opened on October 8, 1866, by Raja Vijay Sen of Mandi State, making it one of Himachal Pradesh’s oldest educational landmarks. Over time, the structure had deteriorated badly until the Old Students’ Association initiated a long campaign for its restoration.
The demand was later fulfilled during the tenure of the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, leading to a major renovation effort using traditional materials such as deodar wood, lime, surkhi and sand.
The restored building comprises eight spacious hall-like rooms designed in the original architectural style. However, despite the renovation expenditure, the building was never formally inaugurated and has remained only partially functional since.
Concerns raised by local bodies and citizens
Expressing grave concern, social worker Neeraj Handa has once again brought public attention to the issue, warning that rainwater is destroying a structure of immense historical and cultural value. Handa emphasised that preserving Vijay High School is not merely about saving a building, but about protecting a living symbol of Mandi’s identity and heritage.
Today, representatives from various local organisations, including the Bir Mandal (president Chander Shekhar), Shree Rajput Sabha (general secretary Kartar Singh Rana), Manav Utthan Samiti (member Satish) and Retired Engineer OP Kapoor, met Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Madan Kumar to apprise him of the grave condition of the heritage structure.
ADM Madan Kumar assured the delegation that prompt inspection and necessary repair measures would be taken to safeguard the building from further deterioration.
