look news india
In many parts of the country, the severe form of monsoon and continuous torrential rains have completely disrupted life. In view of the severe situation of excessive rainfall, swollen rivers and waterlogging in many states of North India and Eastern India, the local administration has started taking precautionary measures. Following the red and orange alert of heavy rain issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), instructions have been given to close schools in many districts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar, giving priority to the safety of children. Due to this sudden natural disaster, the roads have been flooded and the traffic has come to a standstill, due to which both parents and students are troubled.
From the mountains to the plains, the weather appears to be extremely bad. Due to the rising water level of rivers and flood-like situation in low-lying areas, the District Magistrates have given strict instructions to the concerned education officers that the students should not be put at any kind of risk. The process of suspending academic work or declaring holidays has been swiftly implemented in all types of primary and secondary schools, government, aided and private, until the situation becomes normal.
Intermittent heavy rains in the central, eastern and western parts of Uttar Pradesh for the last few days have worsened the situation. Exceptional rainfall has been recorded in areas like the capital Lucknow, Kanpur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Moradabad, Lakhimpur Kheri and Farrukhabad. In view of the danger of waterlogging and dilapidated buildings, the district administration in Moradabad, Bareilly, Pilibhit and surrounding districts has declared holiday in schools of all boards from class 1 to 12. In some districts, only schools at the primary level i.e. classes 1 to 8 have been kept closed, while in districts with severe waterlogging, orders have been issued to keep all institutions up to Intermediate closed.
Local district magistrates have clarified that school managements will have to strictly follow the guidelines depending on the severity of the weather in both rural and urban areas. Children have been advised to stay indoors due to the danger of electrocution in electric poles, erosion along river banks and sinking of roads. Parents have been requested to stay in touch with the respective school administration or official district portal for any emergency information or holiday confirmation.
The situation remains even more sensitive in the hill state of Uttarakhand. An alert of heavy to extremely heavy rain has been issued by the Meteorological Department in Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun and Pauri districts. In view of the threat of landslides, debris falling and loss of connectivity in the mountains, the administration has already ordered closure of schools from classes 1 to 12 as well as all Anganwadi centers in many affected districts.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the disaster management system to remain alert 24 hours. Due to heavy rains and landslides, movement on Chardham Yatra routes has also been limited. District disaster management officials have been warned to immediately evacuate people living on sensitive hill slopes and near storm drains to safe places. Unless there is a clear improvement in the weather conditions, the risk of opening schools in the hilly districts is not being taken.
The situation is worrying in North India as well as in the border areas of Bihar. Major rivers like Gandak and Kosi are flowing near the danger mark due to heavy rainfall in the Terai areas of Nepal and West Champaran, Sitamarhi and adjoining districts of Bihar. Due to release of huge amount of water from Valmikinagar and Birpur barrage, water has entered many low lying villages. The local administration has currently postponed the operation of schools in the flood affected areas and preparations are being made to convert the affected buildings into relief camps.
On the other hand, the weather is relatively stable in most parts of Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan, so schools are likely to remain open normally there. However, holidays have been declared on a regional basis due to localized rain in parts of Odisha and the Northeast. Education departments have directed that classes will be resumed as soon as the weather improves, but as long as the alert continues, the safety of children will remain paramount.