NEW DELHI, Aug 23 (NNN-PTI) – All schools and other educational institutions have been closed, in India’s northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh for two days, as the weather forecast indicates extremely heavy rain, said an order issued by the state government, yesterday.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert, signalling extremely heavy rain, for today and an Orange Alert, signalling heavy rains for two days.
In view of the prediction of extremely heavy rainfall by the IMD, the movement of staff, school children and trainees may not be safe, therefore needs to be restricted, the order said.
“Hence, all government, private educational institutions, university, college, schools, and vocational training centres shall remain closed for two days, i.e. today, Aug 23 and tomorrow, Aug 24,” said the order, issued by the state’s disaster management authority.
The state has already faced huge losses, both in terms of human lives and properties, over the past few weeks, amid landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain.
As per rough estimates, around 80 people have died and properties, including houses, shops, bridges and roads, worth 100 billion Indian rupees (around 1.2 billion U.S. dollars), have been lost in rain-related incidents in the state.– NNN-PTI
