Bhubaneswar: All schools and colleges in Odisha’s Nuapada district will remain closed on October 28 and 29 as a precautionary measure in view of the impending cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ over the Bay of Bengal and the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds, according to an order issued by the District Education Officer (DEO) on Tuesday.
The closure will apply to all educational institutions in the district, including government, government-aided and private schools and colleges, as well as Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) and Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs).
In an office order dated October 27, the DEO directed the heads of all educational institutions to ensure strict compliance with the closure instructions and take necessary precautions to safeguard students and institutional property.
No regular classes, examinations or other academic activities involving students will be conducted on October 28 and 29. Students have been advised to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel during the period of adverse weather.
The order also directs headmasters, principals and other institutional heads to secure school and college buildings, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, hostels and other facilities. Loose materials, furniture and equipment that could be displaced by strong winds must be secured wherever possible.
Special instructions have been issued to institutions with residential facilities to ensure the safety and well-being of students staying in hostels. Such institutions must make adequate arrangements for food, drinking water and other essential supplies and coordinate with the concerned authorities wherever necessary.
The DEO has further instructed institutional heads to remain alert and maintain coordination with Block Education Officers, district authorities and the local administration. Any emergency or damage to institutional property must be reported promptly to the appropriate authorities.
Block Education Officers and other supervisory officials have been directed to ensure the effective implementation of the order in their respective jurisdictions. Educational institutions have also been asked to comply with any further instructions issued by the district administration or other competent authorities in connection with the cyclonic situation.
The closure has been announced as a precautionary measure to ensure students’ safety amid the weather warning attributed in the order to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
