Schools to stay closed till Jan 5 in Noida & Ghaziabad

Noida: Schools across the city and Ghaziabad will remain closed till Jan 5 in view of persistent cold wave and dense fog conditions across the state.District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Gautam Buddha Nagar, issued an official order on Friday. The four-day extension applied to all govt, aided and unaided secondary and higher secondary schools, including those affiliated with CBSE, ICSE and IB boards in both districts."The move aims to protect students from health risks associated with low temperatures and poor visibility, especially during early morning travel hours," an official said.Officials said dense fog continues to reduce visibility in the mornings, while temperatures remain unusually low. "Since buses ply early in the morning, it prompted concerns over student safety. Moreover, the weather conditions were not favourable for children to commute," the official said.School authorities were instructed to ensure strict compliance with the order. Some parents welcomed the extension, saying it would help prevent children from exposure to harsh winter conditions, whereas others said this might affect the curriculum. The administration said weather conditions will be reviewed regularly and further decisions will be taken if necessary.