Ranchi: In response to the prevailing cold wave and dense fog conditions across Jharkhand, the state government has announced the closure of all schools till January 8, officials said on Monday.
As per a notification issued by the School Education and Literacy Department, all government, government-aided, unaided (including minority) and private schools across the state will remain closed from January 6 to January 8, 2026.
The order applies to students from pre-nursery to Class 12, and all regular academic activities will remain suspended during this period.
However, the department clarified that teachers and non-teaching staff of government schools will be required to attend their respective institutions and perform non-academic duties as assigned.
With regard to pre-Board examinations scheduled during the closure period, the department stated that the concerned school authorities may take an appropriate decision after reviewing the prevailing weather conditions.
The decision follows a warning issued by the Meteorological Centre in Ranchi, which has forecast cold wave and ‘cold day’ conditions in several parts of the state over the next two days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), minimum temperatures in districts such as Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Koderma, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla and Hazaribagh may drop to around 5 degrees Celsius.
Dense fog is also expected during morning hours in northern and western Jharkhand, reducing visibility to as low as 50 to 200 metres. Districts including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Deoghar and Palamu are likely to witness a further dip of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the next 48 hours.
Citing health concerns, particularly for young children, the state government said the precautionary step was taken to ensure student safety. Parents have also been advised not to send children outdoors unnecessarily and to follow safety precautions during the cold spell.
With inputs from IANS