Patna: The biting cold that has settled over Patna shows little sign of relenting, prompting the district administration to once again step in to protect children from hazardous weather conditions.
Patna District Magistrate Thyagarajan S M has ordered the suspension of classes up to Class VIII in all government and private schools, including pre-schools and Anganwadi centres, until December 30. The directive will be in force from December 27, as the city continues to grapple with dense fog, icy winds and sharply reduced temperatures.
For students in Classes IX and above, schools have been instructed to operate on a curtailed schedule, with classes permitted only between 10am and 3.30pm during the same period.
अत्यधिक ठंड के कारण विद्यालयों के संचालन के बारे में आदेश@BiharEducation_@IcdsDirectorate@BiharHomeDept pic.twitter.com/ndHhUiNKSR
— District Administration Patna (@dm_patna) December 26, 2025
The decision comes amid worsening winter conditions across Bihar. Cold westerly winds and persistent fog have created cold wave-like conditions in much of the state, with minimum temperatures dropping by one to three degrees in several districts on Friday alone.
The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Saturday, warning of extremely dense fog in most districts and cold day conditions in around 30 districts, including Patna. Visibility is expected to remain poor, particularly during the morning and evening hours, raising concerns about road safety and children’s exposure to the cold.
Weather officials say there is little prospect of immediate relief. Dense fog and cold day conditions are forecast to persist until at least December 31, with minimum temperatures across the state ranging between 7.4°C and 13°C.
Authorities have urged parents and school administrations to strictly adhere to the advisory, stressing that the measures are aimed at minimising health risks to children during one of the harshest cold spells of the season.
