Noida schools to remain closed till class 8 ‘until further notice’ due to cold wave

As minimum and maximum temperatures plummet in Noida, the Gautam Buddha Nagar administration on Thursday ordered all schools up to class 8 to remain closed “until further notice”.

In a letter addressed to the principals of all schools, district basic education officer Rahul Panwar said the cold winter weather and fog passing through major areas are likely to cause inconvenience to the students going to schools.

Mr. Panwar said that on the instructions of district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, all schools recognized by the education board had been ordered to remain closed until further orders. He also said that any violation of the directive could result in strict action.

A winter chill has gripped northern India, as temperatures continue to drop after the New Year, affecting several states.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Wednesday said west and north central India are likely to experience more days of cold waves than usual in January.

Large swathes of Uttar Pradesh witnessed a drop in maximum temperatures of more than 5 degrees Celsius earlier this week. A layer of fog engulfed Ayodhya on Wednesday as the temperature dropped in the city. In Meerut, the temperature was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius, in Lucknow at 10 degrees Celsius, according to the weather body.

On December 16, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration had asked all schools in the district to start classes from 9 am, keeping in view the weather conditions.

Besides, the administration has ordered schools to shift to a hybrid mode of teaching for students up to class 5 due to pollution and implementation of GRAP III restrictions.

Amid similar weather conditions in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government announced winter holidays for schools from January 1 to 15. Schools in Haryana will also observe their holidays during this period.