An intense cold wave condition has prompted the Jharkhand government to issue a directive on Tuesday evening for the closure of primary schools (up to Class V) till January 8.

However, several schools could not implement the order on Wednesday and had to direct the students to leave for houses after turning up at school.

The notification issued by school education and literacy department secretary K. Ravi Kumar on Tuesday evening points out that due to the intense cold wave impacting Jharkhand in the first week of January, the department has decided to suspend primary classes till January 8. It states that the order has to be implemented with immediate effect. Most of the schools reopened after Christmas vacation on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The directive however asks the teachers to attend school and do online data entry and other official work. It also asks the schools to ensure that primary school students are provided with mid-day meal facilities.

“We took the decision due to the foggy and cold wave conditions forecasted by the Ranchi weather office. We will see the condition till January 8 and based on the weather forecast will review the decision. Till that time, the school has been asked to suspend classes from Class I to V. However, since mid-day meals come under National Food Security Act and are distributed in the afternoon in the government schools with students residing nearby, we have asked to continue distribution of mid-day meals,” said Ravi Kumar.

Sources said that most of the students in government schools are located within one to two kilometres from their primary schools and the temperature is bearable during the afternoon, which has made the department continue with the mid-day meal facilities. Officials ruled out closing down schools for higher classes.

“It was decided not to disrupt studies of higher classes as it has already been disturbed in the last two years due to the Covid pandemic. Those studying in Class VIII and above also have to appear for their examinations,” said a senior official.

The minimum temperature in Ranchi will be hovering between 7 and 10 degrees Celsius till January 8 with fog and cloudy sky, weather officials said.

“The foggy conditions and fall in minimum temperatures will continue for the next few days. We might see foggy conditions reducing by January 8 but the temperature fall will continue at least till January 15. The government has taken the right decision of suspending classes for primary students as children and elderly are more susceptible to diseases during such harsh weather conditions,” said Abhishek Anand, a senior scientist at the Ranchi-based Met office.

The minimum temperature across Jharkhand hovered around 10 degrees Celsius on Tuesday