In response to the severe cold wave and dense fog in Jharkhand, the state government has directed the closure of all schools until January 8. This decision, as per an official notification from the School Education and Literacy Department, applies to all types of schools in the state from January 6 to January 8, 2026.
Students from pre-nursery to Class 12 are affected by this directive, with no regular academic activities scheduled during this period. However, teachers and non-teaching staff of government schools are required to report to their institutions for non-academic duties.
Amidst the closure, the department has left the decision on conducting pre-Board examinations to the discretion of the competent authority of the respective schools, based on the prevailing weather conditions. The Meteorological Centre in Ranchi has issued a forecast warning of cold wave and ‘cold day’ conditions in various parts of the state over the next two days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted minimum temperatures to drop to around 5 degrees Celsius, especially in districts like Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Koderma, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, and Hazaribagh. Additionally, dense fog is expected to linger during morning hours in northern and western Jharkhand, potentially causing visibility to drop to 50-200 meters.
Districts such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Deoghar, and Palamu are likely to experience a further decrease of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in minimum temperatures within the next 48 hours. Weather experts have warned about the health risks posed by prolonged exposure to extreme cold, especially for young children, prompting the state government to take preventive measures for student safety.
The administration has urged parents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities for their children and to take necessary precautions due to the prevailing intense cold conditions.
