Lucknow, January 11: The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration has ordered the extension of school holidays for students from Nursery to Class 8 until January 15, citing a severe cold wave and persistent dense fog. The directive, issued on Sunday by District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, aims to safeguard young children from the bone-chilling temperatures and low visibility that have gripped the National Capital Region (NCR). While junior classes remain suspended, schools for Classes 9 to 12 are permitted to continue, provided they adhere to revised winter timings.

Scope of the School Closure Order

The closure applies to all recognised schools in Noida and Greater Noida, regardless of their board affiliation. This includes:

  • CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education)

  • ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education)

  • UP Board

  • IB and other international boards

The District Basic Education Officer, Rahul Panwar, emphasised that the order is mandatory for both government and private institutions. "Principals and school managements must ensure strict compliance with this directive. Any violation will be met with administrative action," the official notice stated. UP RTE Admission 2026-27: Uttar Pradesh Government Revamps Online Process, Strengthens Aadhaar Verification to Curb Fraud.

Gautam Budh Nagar Live Weather Forecast and Updates

Weather Forecast: Persistent Chill Till January 15

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cold wave warning for the next three days and a dense fog warning for the following days.

Next 7-Day Weather Forecast for Gautam Budh Nagar (Gautam Buddha Nagar)

Weather forecast for the next seven days for Gautam Budh Nagar (Photo Credits: IMD)

Safety Concerns and Visibility

The primary driver for the extension is the "dense to very dense" fog expected during early morning commutes. Visibility on major arteries like the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway is predicted to drop below 50 meters in isolated pockets.

For school buses and vans transporting younger children, these conditions pose a significant safety risk. Additionally, health experts have warned that the combination of extreme cold and high pollution levels in the NCR can lead to increased respiratory issues among pre-primary and primary students. Water Contamination Scare: Yellow Water From Tube Wells Triggers Alarm in Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha; District Administration Launches Probe After Farmers Raise Health Concerns.

Impact on Senior Classes

While junior students stay home, students in Classes 9 to 12 are currently required to attend physical classes to prepare for upcoming board examinations. However, the administration has capped school hours, directing that no classes begin before 10:00 AM and none extend beyond 3:00 PM to avoid the harshest morning and evening chill.

Many private schools have already shifted to hybrid models, offering online sessions for junior classes to ensure that the academic syllabus remains on track despite the weather-related disruptions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 11, 2026 05:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).