Summer Vacation: There is a good news for school students. The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to extend the summer break for schools by an additional three days due to the extreme heat and humidity. As a result, schools will remain closed until July 22, following a heat wave and weather warnings. This extension applies to all government and recognized private schools in the Kashmir division and the winter zone of the Jammu division.
With this new decision, schools that were set to reopen on July 20 will now stay closed until July 22, with classes expected to resume on July 23, pending any further government directives. This precautionary measure has been taken in response to the severe heat and the alerts issued by the Meteorological Department.
Officials have communicated that the safety and health of students, teachers, and school staff is the government’s highest priority. The extension comes as temperatures in the Valley have been rising over the past few days, while the International Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall and localized flooding in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir in the near future.
The School Education Department has urged parents, students, and school management to heed official guidance and await further updates regarding the reopening of schools. Additional orders will be provided by the relevant authorities if necessary, depending on the evolving weather conditions.
In the meantime, the IMD has issued a warning for Jammu and Kashmir, forecasting heavy rainfall in the upcoming days, along with potential flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in lower areas. The department has advised the public to exercise extra caution on Saturday night, Sunday morning, and from July 20 to 22, as this timeframe is anticipated to be particularly challenging. The situation is expected to remain quite severe.
Amarnath Yatra Suspended
Meanwhile The pilgrimage to the sacred cave shrine of Amarnath has been put on hold starting Sunday, July 19th. Reports indicate that this decision was made due to adverse weather conditions. Previously, it was noted that this year’s ice Shivalinga had completely melted within the first five days of the pilgrimage. Consequently, the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for heavy rainfall in the region.