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Monsoon rains have taken a severe form across the country. From the plains of North India to the hilly states and coastal areas of South India, torrential rains have been continuing for the past 24 hours. Roads and low-lying areas have been submerged, which has increased the concern of parents about the safety of children going to school early in the morning. After the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued ‘Orange’ and ‘Red Alert’ of heavy to very heavy rains in many states of the country, the local district administrations have started taking safety measures.

In which states and districts has the administration declared school holidays?

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh: In view of landslides and rising river levels in the hill states, District Magistrates (DMs) in sensitive districts like Dehradun, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Kangra have issued orders for holiday in all government and private schools and Anganwadi centres from classes 1 to 12.

Kerala and Coastal Karnataka: District Collectors have declared holiday for educational institutions in several affected districts including Ernakulam, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kasaragod due to continuous rains and waterlogging.

Delhi-NCR and the plains: Intermittent rain continues in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, causing waterlogging. However, no general holiday order has been issued for the entire Delhi-NCR region. Many private schools here have resumed online classes in response to the situation.

IMD alert and forecast for the next 24 hours

According to the Meteorological Department, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, coastal Karnataka, and Kerala over the next 24 to 48 hours. The IMD warned that children and the elderly should avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in areas prone to inclement weather and waterlogging.

How can parents and students check official updates for their city?

The final and official decision regarding holiday in schools is taken by the local District Magistrate (District Magistrate / Collector) on the instructions of the State Government.

Social media and district portals: Don’t trust fake news or old holiday messages. Check your district’s official administrative handle (such as the DM/District Magistrate’s Instagram/Twitter account) or the district website.

School’s official group: Trust only the notices sent by schools directly through WhatsApp group, SMS or school app.

If there is heavy rain, waterlogging or increased water level in rivers and drains in your area, then give priority to the safety of children and contact the school management to get information about the situation.