The Punjab state government of India announced on Wednesday that all schools in the northern state will remain closed till Saturday. The state is witnessing heavy rainfall and flooding.
State Education Minister Harjot Bains said that the order has been passed on the instructions of Punjab state chief Bhagwant Mann in view of the heavy rains in the state and neighboring Himachal Pradesh.
“Closure of all government/aided/recognised and private schools of the state has been announced for safety reasons with immediate effect. Holidays will be observed with immediate effect today (August 23) till 26th August 2023,” Bains said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, and Ferozepur districts of the state were flooded over the last week as excess water from the Pong and Bhakra dams was released after heavy rains in Beas and Sutlej rivers.
Apart from this, the capital city of the state Chandigarh and Mohali also witnessed heavy rainfalls and the India Meteorological Department has said that more rains are expected this week.