Chandigarh Administration Extends School Holidays Until January 10 Amid Intense Cold Wave
Published: January 4, 2026
Chandigarh: Due to the increasing severity of the cold wave and the forecast of dense fog, the Chandigarh Union Territory (UT) administration has announced that all government and private schools will remain closed for students up to Class 8 until January 10, 2026. This order also applies to students of Class 9 and Class 11.
Initially, winter vacations in government schools were scheduled to end on January 7. However, senior officials have indicated that if the weather conditions do not improve in the coming days, the holidays may be extended further.
New Timings for Board Classes (10th and 12th)
While younger classes remain closed, schools have been given specific instructions for students appearing in board examinations (Classes 10 and 12):
- Schools cannot open before 9:30 AM.
- Schools must close no later than 3:30 PM.
- For schools operating in double shifts, the evening shift will not be held for these classes to ensure students reach home safely before temperatures drop.
The Director of the Education Department, Nitish Singla, issued these orders today, emphasizing that any school found violating these timing regulations will face strict disciplinary action.
Weather Forecast and Safety
The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for dense fog in the Tricity area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula) until January 8. Recent data shows maximum temperatures hovering around 14.4°C, while minimum temperatures have dipped to approximately 9.3°C.
"Schools have been advised to consider shifting to online classes for non-board students (Classes 9 and 11) if they choose to continue the curriculum during this break."
