In response to a severe cold wave and official weather warnings, authorities in Kanpur have declared a two-day holiday for all schools in the district. The decision, aimed at safeguarding students from harsh conditions, was announced by the District Magistrate on Thursday.
Official Announcement and Reason for Closure
District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh made the official announcement on Thursday, declaring that all schools from Nursery to Class 12 will remain closed on December 19 and 20. He issued the order while attending an inauguration event for the Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Space Science & Innovation Lab at Primary School Gram Panchayat Nagva Block Development Bidhanu. The primary reason cited was the chilly weather conditions and an explicit warning issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
IMD's Severe Weather Warning for Uttar Pradesh
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre Lucknow, and Ministry of Earth Science have jointly forecast adverse weather for the region. Their warning states that approximately 30 districts across Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Etawah, and Farrukhabad, are likely to experience dense to very dense fog and intense cold conditions from December 19 to 21.
The departments have assured that the situation is under critical monitoring and necessary updates will be provided regularly. In Kanpur, recent readings highlighted the severity: the maximum temperature plummeted to 15.3 degrees Celsius, which is a significant 7.6 degrees below the seasonal normal. The minimum temperature was recorded at 10.6 degrees Celsius, with a peak relative humidity of 93% and a north-west wind speed of 3.4 km per hour.
Expert Analysis on Weather Patterns
Adding to the official forecast, Dr. Sunil Pandey, a weather scientist at CSA University, provided further insight. He explained that the Kanpur division and wider Uttar Pradesh will witness fluctuations in both night and day temperatures. The phenomenon of "melting" is expected to occur during night, morning, evening, and daytime hours.
Dr. Pandey also warned that high humidity levels will lead to persistent pollution and fog, particularly in the mornings and evenings. The conditions are conducive for the formation of dense fog, which significantly reduces visibility and poses health risks, especially for children.
The preemptive holiday declaration underscores the administration's focus on public health and safety during extreme weather events, urging citizens to stay warm and follow official advisories.
