Cold wave shuts schools across Raj including Jaipur as fog disrupts daily life

Jaipur: A sharp cold wave sweeping across Rajasthan has pushed daily life into slow gear, prompting school closures in large parts of the state and raising safety concerns on roads. With temperatures dropping sharply and visibility reduced by dense fog, district administrations across 18 districts have announced temporary suspension of classes to protect children from extreme weather conditions.

Schools closed, timings changed

In Jaipur, authorities have declared holidays for students up to Class 5 till January 10, while Classes 6 to 8 will remain closed till January 8. Similar measures have been taken in Hanumangarh, Sikar, Sri Ganganagar, Bundi, Baran, Dausa, Pratapgarh, Jhalawar, Ajmer, Dungarpur, Bhilwara and other districts, with either full closures or revised school timings.

In Kota, anganwadi centres catering to children aged 3 to 6 will remain closed till January 14, while some districts have opted to delay school hours for senior classes instead of declaring complete holidays.

Jaipur experienced its coldest day and night of the season, with the minimum temperature dropping to 6.8°C and the maximum struggling to reach 14.8°C. Dense fog lingered till afternoon, and although brief sunshine appeared later in the day, biting winds kept conditions uncomfortable.

Weather officials have indicated that cold wave and fog conditions are likely to persist in the coming days, advising caution during early morning travel and urging parents to follow district advisories on school operations.

Hill station Mount Abu recorded temperatures at the freezing point for the third consecutive day, underlining the severity of the cold spell. Several cities reported night temperatures falling below 5 degrees Celsius, while daytime conditions remained unusually cold due to persistent chilly winds.