North India is experiencing a severe cold wave, particularly evident in the plains due to snowfall in the mountains, causing temperatures to drop by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. Dense fog has significantly reduced visibility, making it dangerous for schoolchildren to venture out early in the morning. Consequently, the governments of Delhi, UP, Punjab, Haryana and other states have extended the school winter vacation. Check latest updates here. (AI Generated Image)
In cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Lucknow, schools up to grade 8 are closed until January 10, 2026, and schedules for higher classes have been adjusted. While the Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) and Haryana School Education Department have officially announced that all govt and private schools will remain closed until January 15, 2026, citing extreme cold and poor air quality. Classes are expected to resume on January 15 or 16. (AI Generated Image)
In Lucknow and Varanasi, timings have been changed for classes 9-12. These classes are now taking place from 10 am to 3 pm. As per the Punjab Chief Minister’s directive, all schools will remain closed until January 13 and will reopen on January 14. (AI Generated Image)
In Rajasthan, 25 districts, including Jaipur, Bikaner, and Jodhpur, have declared holidays for children up to grade 5 until January 10. In many districts, schools are expected to remain closed until Makar Sankranti (January 14). Bihar schools up to class 8 in many districts, including Patna, are closed until January 11. (AI Generated Image)
In Gwalior and Bhopal, holidays have been declared for pre-primary to class 5, with higher classes starting after 10:30 am. In Ranchi and Jamshedpur, schools are ordered to remain closed until January 10 due to the severe cold. Schools in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand (winter zones) are already closed until the end of February. In the plains (such as Dehradun and Haridwar), local administrations are issuing 2-3 day holidays based on the cold conditions. (File Photo)
