Patna: The Patna district administration has ordered the closure of all government and private schools and Anganwadi centres up to Class 5 until January 5, citing the continuing cold wave and the risk it poses to young children.
The directive, issued by the district magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, applies to both urban and rural areas. Officials said the decision was taken to protect children from exposure to severe cold, low daytime temperatures and persistent fog.
Classes for students from Class 6 onwards have been permitted to continue, but only within a restricted window between 10.30am and 3.30pm. School managements have been instructed to reschedule academic activities accordingly. Special classes and examinations related to board and pre-board assessments have been exempted from the closure order.
Authorities said the move follows a slight improvement in weather conditions that allows limited academic activity for older students, even as cold westerly winds continue to sweep across the state.
The India Meteorological Department has warned that light to moderate fog is likely to persist in Patna and several other districts, with cold conditions continuing despite intermittent sunshine. Very dense fog has been forecast for parts of north Bihar, including Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj.
On the temperature front, the lowest minimum in the state was recorded at 5.1 degrees Celsius in Agwanpur, Saharsa, while Patna reported a minimum of 9.0 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists have indicated that maximum temperatures may rise by one to three degrees Celsius over the next 48 hours, though the overall chill is expected to linger.
