Chandigarh, 31 December 2024: Punjab’s Education Department has extended school holidays due to the ongoing cold wave. Initially set from December 24 to December 31, the holidays will now continue until January 7. Schools, both government and private, will reopen on January 8.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the extension in a post on X, citing the direction of the Chief Minister. The holidays will apply to all government, aided, recognized, and private schools across the state.
The extension comes amid worsening weather conditions in Punjab, with an orange alert issued for fog and cold waves. The fog is severely affecting visibility, especially on highways, making morning travel difficult. Snowfall continues in the surrounding mountainous regions, further intensifying the cold in Punjab and Chandigarh. The drop in temperatures has made it challenging for students, particularly young children, to attend early morning classes.
Additionally, the Chandigarh center of the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a ‘yellow alert’ for several Punjab districts, warning of smoke that may disrupt air quality. The lowest temperatures recorded today were in Gurdaspur at 5°C, with Faridkot at 6.8°C, Bathinda at 7.2°C, and Amritsar at 7.3°C. The maximum temperature across most districts remains between 11-13°C, except in Gurdaspur.