Majuli, Barak schools shut as severe cold grips Assam dists

Dibrugarh/Silchar: Authorities in Majuli and Barak Valley districts have announced temporary closure of schools and revised timings amid a sharp drop in temperatures, following a similar order in Kamrup (Metro) covering schools in Guwahati.In Majuli, all educational institutions will remain closed for five days from Jan 1 to Jan 5, according to an advisory issued by the inspector of schools on Wednesday. The decision follows Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu’s authorisation for district commissioners to take localised calls on school timings or closures based on weather intensity.The cold conditions have made early morning travel and extended classroom hours difficult for children.The Majuli administration said examinations will continue as scheduled. The ongoing pre-final examination for Class X and the revisionary test for Class XII will not be disrupted.The order applies to all provincialised (government-funded) schools, while private schools have been left to decide independently. The advisory said private schools are “advised to decide for themselves in the interest of students.”In Barak Valley, authorities in Cachar, Hailakandi and Sribhumi districts announced closures and revised timings due to the ongoing cold wave. A directive issued on Wednesday said classes in lower primary (LP) and upper primary (UP) schools in Sribhumi and Hailakandi will remain suspended on Jan 1 and 2. Secondary schools in Cachar, Hailakandi and Sribhumi will start at 10am instead of 9am from Jan 1 until further notice. In Cachar, LP and UP schools will also shift to a 10am start from Jan 1 until further orders.The changes come as minimum temperatures in parts of the valley have dipped below 10°C in recent days. Weather reports said Silchar recorded a minimum near around 7.9°C and a daytime high around 23.3°C on Wednesday, with similar conditions expected in early Jan. Meteorologists attributed the spell to a cold wave bringing foggy mornings and chilly nights across the region.