Zürcher Nachrichten - UP schools close for Valmiki Jayanti as coastal states monitor cyclone risk

There is no nationwide Indian school closure on October 26, though Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Council schools will shut for Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and coastal states are watching cyclone forecasts.

Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Council schools have declared a holiday for Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti. Families should distinguish that state-specific decision from schedules elsewhere and confirm arrangements with their own school.

In Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad, no weather-related closure had been confirmed in the information available on October 25. An India Meteorological Department forecast showed no Monday weather warning for Delhi, Chandigarh or Haryana, with predominantly dry conditions expected before possible isolated rain later in the week.

The developing Bay of Bengal system was not expected to affect Delhi-NCR directly on October 26. Even so, parents were advised to monitor school messages and official district notices for late changes.

Odisha ordered schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri to close on October 28 and 29 because of the expected cyclone and adverse weather. Those dates do not include October 26.

The state said district administrations could issue further directions as rainfall, wind and local risk assessments changed. Students were told to note that the confirmed shutdown applied to October 28 and 29 rather than the Monday covered by the broader school-holiday queries.

The IMD said the system could intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and approach the Andhra Pradesh coast around October 28. Coastal districts including areas around Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla and Prakasam were asked to follow official bulletins, but closures should not be assumed without an order.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were watching forecasts for heavy to very heavy rain, while Kerala and Mahe faced the possibility of isolated extremely heavy rain on October 25 and 26. Coastal West Bengal was also advised to monitor the system.

The October 26 observance is listed as a gazetted or restricted holiday in some places, including Delhi, but such a listing does not automatically close every school. Government, private and district-level calendars can differ even within the same region.

Parents were urged to rely on current communications from schools and local authorities because a festival listing, weather warning and formal closure order have different effects on school operations.

R.Bernasconi--NZN