Patna: The Patna district administration has revised school timings across the city in response to intensifying cold weather and dense fog, ordering all educational institutions to function only during late morning and early afternoon hours.
In an order issued on Friday, district magistrate Dr Thyagarajan SM directed all government and private schools, including pre-schools and Anganwadi centres, to conduct classes between 10am and 3.30pm. The revised schedule will remain in force from December 20 to December 25.
The order prohibits any academic activity outside the stipulated hours, citing the health risks posed to children by extreme cold and low visibility conditions. However, special classes and examinations related to pre-board and board exams have been exempted from the restrictions.
जिले में अत्यधिक ठंड का मौसम एवं कम तापमान की स्थिति के कारण बच्चों के स्वास्थ्य एवं जीवन पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव पड़ने की संभावना के दृष्टिगत जिला दंडाधिकारी, पटना द्वारा प्री-स्कूल, आँगनबाड़ी केन्द्रों सहित जिला के सभी निजी एवं सरकारी विद्यालयों में सभी कक्षा की शैक्षणिक गतिविधियों… pic.twitter.com/YIyIUNMyF5
— District Administration Patna (@dm_patna) December 19, 2025
Officials said the decision was taken after winter conditions worsened further in recent days, with foggy mornings and sharply reduced temperatures affecting normal routines across the district.
Earlier this month, on December 10, the administration had issued a partial adjustment to school timings, restricting classes up to eighth grade to between 8.30am and 4pm from December 11 to December 18. With the cold intensifying, the latest order now applies uniformly to all classes.
Weather officials have warned that dense fog and cold conditions are likely to persist over the coming days, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures to safeguard students, particularly younger children.
