The biting cold and persistent dense fog sweeping across North India have forced the Lucknow district administration to extend winter holidays for younger students. In an official order, the administration declared that all schools up to Class 8 will remain shut until January 8, 2026. This decision prioritizes student safety during the severe weather conditions.
Revised Schedules and State-Wide Directives
While primary and upper primary students enjoy an extended break, older pupils will attend school with adjusted hours. Classes for students from 9 to 12 will be held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. This measure aims to avoid the coldest and foggiest early morning hours. The directive applies uniformly to all government, aided, and private recognized schools across various boards operating in Lucknow district.
This extension follows an earlier announcement by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had ordered the closure of all schools affiliated with ICSE, CBSE, and state boards until January 5. The latest order prolongs the shutdown specifically for the younger grades in the state capital, reflecting the ongoing severity of the weather.
IMD's Grim Forecast and Widespread Disruption
The administrative action is a direct response to alerts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather agency has warned of dense to very dense fog conditions over parts of India for the next four to five days. Over the past 24 hours, visibility plummeted to below 50 meters in eastern Uttar Pradesh and even to zero meters in isolated areas of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttarakhand, including cities like Gorakhpur and Gwalior.
Furthermore, the IMD has issued a cold wave alert for several states:
- Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh: January 6 to 9
- Eastern Rajasthan: January 6 to 10
- Western Rajasthan: January 8 to 10
- Chhattisgarh: January 6 to 8
- Jharkhand: January 6 and 7
Academic Impact Across Multiple States
The harsh winter is disrupting academic calendars beyond Uttar Pradesh. In Jharkhand, authorities have suspended classes from nursery to Class 12 in Ranchi and Jamshedpur until at least January 6. Ranchi is under a yellow alert due to severe cold wave conditions predicted by the local IMD.
Similarly, in Bihar, the sharp dip in temperatures, particularly during early mornings, has led to widespread disruptions. District administrations are advising schools to adhere strictly to local weather advisories before deciding to reopen, putting student health and safety at the forefront during this intense cold spell.
