As bitter cold continues to grip the National Capital Region, sending shivers down spines and shrouding the cities in dense fog, the Arvind Kejriwal Government on Sunday announced that schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next five days for students from nursery to Class V due to the prevailing cold weather conditions.

The maximum temperature in Delhi was recorded of  18.8 degrees Celsius while the  minimum temperature settled at 8.2 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average, and the humidity level recorded at 5.30 pm was 71 per cent, it said.

The maximum temperature  was recorded of 15.3 degree celsius in Jafarpur, 15.5 in CDO Ghaziabad, 15.9 in SPS Mayur Vihar, 16 degree Celsius in Palam, 16.4 in Narela, 16.7 in NCMRWF Noida, 17.6 in Lodhi Road, 17.2 in Ridge and 17.1 in Ayanagar.

The whole of North India has been facing severe cold and so is New Delhi; where the maximum and minimum temperatures have plunged way below normal. 

The difference between the maximum and the minimum temperature was  over 10 degree Celsius, which led to bitter cold in the national capital.

Delhi Education Minister Atishi made the announcement. This decision comes hours after the Delhi Government retracted an order on the extension of winter vacation in schools within the national Capital. The Directorate of Education acknowledged the mistake in issuing the directive and promptly withdrew it. The department clarified that a decision on the matter would be made the following morning.

Taking note of biting cold conditions, Atishi announced that schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next five days for students from nursery to Class 5. “Winter vacation in city schools has been extended till January 12 for primary class students in view of cold wave conditions, Delhi Education Minister Atishi said on Sunday. Schools were earlier slated to resume on Monday after the winter break. “Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 5 days due to the prevailing cold weather conditions, for students from Nursery to Class 5,” Atishi said on X.

Earlier on Saturday, the directorate stated that the winter vacation in all government and private schools in the national capital has been extended till January 10 due to cold weather conditions. A Delhi government official said that there was some error in the order.Delhi’s directorate of education had said that further orders regarding winter break would be issued in due course.

“Order No.DE.23(3)/Sch.Br./2024/18 dated: January 6, 2024, regarding extension of Winter Vacation stands withdrawn with immediate effect. Further orders in this regard may be issued in due course,” the updated order read.  The Education Department assured that future instructions regarding the winter break would be communicated in due course. The abrupt reversal came amidst confusion, emphasizing the importance of accurate communication in managing educational schedules during the cold season.

In the updated order on Sunday, the DoE Bhupesh Choudhary said, “In view of the prevailing weather condition, there will be no classes for Primary Sections (Nursery to Class V) in physical mode in any government, government-aided and recognised private schools for the next five days i.e. from 08.01.2024 to 1201.2024”.  “As far as possible, schools may organise online classes for their respective students of Primary classes. 13th and 14th January being Second Saturday and Sunday respectively, the students of Primary classes will join back school in physical mode on 15.01.2024 (Monday). Schools shall remain open for all other classes (VI to w.e.f. 08.01.2024 (Monday). However, in view of the weather conditions, no school will start before 8 AM and have classes beyond 5 PM Accordingly, all teaching and non-teaching staff to report for duty w.e.f. 08.01.2024 (Monday) as usual. The HoSs must inform all Students, Parents and Staff today itself through bulk SMS/Phone calls/SMC or any other suitable means of communication,”  the order said.

Meanwhile, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration on Saturday ordered all schools in Noida and Greater Noida to observe holidays for students up to Class 8 till January 14 in view of the prevailing dense fog and cold weather conditions.

With maximum temperatures falling below average, severe cold weather was experienced on Sunday morning in many parts of northern India and some central regions of the nation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a new forecast indicating that cold wave conditions were experienced in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The situation is expected to persist for two days.

“Dense to very dense fog and Cold Day to Severe Cold Day conditions likely to continue over plains of Northwest India during next 24 hours and gradually decrease thereafter. 2) A fresh rainfall spell likely over Northwest & Central India (with isolated thunderstorm/ hailstorm over East Rajasthan & West Madhya Pradesh) on January 8 and 9,”IMD in a fresh forecast on Sunday.

According to the railways, 22 Delhi-bound trains were delayed by one to six hours due to weather-related conditions in Delhi and different states.The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 331 ‘very poor’ at 6 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).