In response to a severe cold spell gripping the region, the district administration in Patna has ordered a temporary shutdown of academic activities for younger students. The directive, issued on Thursday, impacts all private and government schools, including pre-schools and anganwadi centres, for classes up to Standard VIII.
Administrative Order and Exemptions
The official order mandates that the closure will remain in effect until Sunday. However, recognizing the academic pressure on senior students, an exception has been made. Classes from Standard IX onwards are permitted to function, but only within a restricted time window from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Furthermore, special classes and examinations for crucial pre-board and board exams have been exempted from this shutdown, allowing crucial academic preparations to continue uninterrupted.
IMD Warnings and Statewide Cold Conditions
This decisive action by the authorities follows orange and yellow alert warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD bulletin highlighted persistent cold day conditions and dense fog. On Thursday, Patna recorded a minimum temperature of 9.1 degrees Celsius and a maximum of just 14.9 degrees Celsius.
The cold wave is not confined to the capital. The IMD reported that Bihar remained dry over the past 24 hours, with Darbhanga experiencing a severe cold day. Chhapra and Valmikinagar also faced cold day conditions. Gaya registered the state's lowest minimum temperature at 4.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, coupled with severely reduced visibility of just 50 metres due to dense fog.
Across Bihar, minimum temperatures ranged between 4.1 and 9.6 degrees Celsius, showing little respite from the previous day. Maximum temperatures, however, saw a notable dip of 2-3 degrees Celsius at many places on Wednesday. On Thursday, Sheikhpura recorded the highest maximum at 20.1°C, while Buxar saw the lowest at 13.3°C.
Forecast and Precautions for Residents
The IMD's alert specifically places districts in north-west and north-central Bihar, including West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, and Vaishali, under a severe cold grip for the next 48 to 72 hours.
Looking ahead, the forecast predicts dense fog will continue during the early morning hours, likely causing significant disruption to road and rail traffic. While minimum temperatures are not expected to change markedly over the next two days, a slight increase of 2-4 degrees Celsius is anticipated thereafter. Authorities advise residents to take necessary precautions against the biting cold, especially during night and early morning when temperatures are expected to stay below 10 degrees Celsius in most parts of the state.
