Given the ongoing spell of severe cold and fog, the Chandigarh administration on Monday extended school holidays for students up to Class 5 by one week.
According to the education department notification, which applies to all government, government-aided, and recognized private schools, these students may attend online classes.
For students in Class 6 and above, the department stated that schools may choose whether or not to call back children for classroom learning, but they must take appropriate precautions to ensure that no child is exposed to cold weather during their commute. It also stated that schools should not open before 9:30 a.m. and must close by 4 p.m.
Director of School Education H P S Brar previously told The Indian Express that they were considering extending the holidays due to the chilly weather in the city and the upcoming public holidays (Republic Day on January 26, followed by Saturday and Sunday) later this week. “To call the students for just three days (January 23, 24 and 25) will not be a practical decision, that too in this intense cold,” he told reporters.
Red Alert Again
On Sunday, the maximum daytime temperature dropped to 9.4 degrees Celsius, seven degrees lower than normal. However, the temperature rose to 6.5 degrees Celsius in the early morning on Monday, up from 5.2 degrees Celsius the day before.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Chandigarh, indicating severe cold and dense fog, until January 23 and an orange alert until January 25.