Chandigarh, 31 Dec. 2024: The Punjab Education Department has announced an extension to the school holidays due to the ongoing cold wave. The break, originally set from December 24 to 31, will now last until January 7. Schools, both public and private, will reopen on January 8.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains shared the update on X, stating that the decision was made following instructions from the Chief Minister. The holiday extension applies to all government, private, aided, and recognized schools throughout the state.
This decision comes in response to the increasing cold weather, with an orange alert issued for fog and cold waves. The severe fog is reducing visibility, especially on highways, which is making travel hazardous during early hours. Snowfall in the region’s mountain areas is expected to continue, intensifying the cold weather in both Punjab and Chandigarh, making it difficult for young students to attend school in the mornings.
The Indian Meteorological Department’s Chandigarh center has also issued a yellow alert for several districts in Punjab due to anticipated smoke, further affecting air quality. The lowest temperatures observed today were recorded in Gurdaspur at 5°C, Faridkot at 6.8°C, Bathinda at 7.2°C, and Amritsar at 7.3°C. The maximum temperature in most districts hovers between 11-13°C, except for Gurdaspur.
