The Jharkhand government has extended the winter vacation for primary classes till January 15 in view of the continuing cold wave.

A notification issued by the state education and literacy department on Sunday evening informed about extending the winter vacation notice issued on January 3 for a period till January 8 to January 14.

With January 15 being a Sunday regular classes will commence on January 16.

Significantly, several states’ education departments have issued orders to keep schools closed in view of the cold wave affecting most of the northern Indian states.

“In view of continuing extreme cold wave conditions in Jharkhand, the state department of school education and literacy has decided that teaching in all government and private schools from KG to class 5 will remain suspended till January 14,” the notification said.

Midday meals would also be made available to students in government schools, it added. Teachers will, however, attend schools to update all student records online, it said.

The lowest temperature in some districts varied between 4.1 and 10 degrees Celsius in the last 24 hours. A look at the temperature chart released by the Ranchi-based met centre indicates that mercury is continuously falling in Jharkhand.

The temperature of Kanke (near Ranchi) and Netarhat (in Latehar) dropped to one degree.

The temperature of McCluskieganj (in Daltonganj) has been recorded at two degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Center has issued a yellow alert in view of the increasing cold in the state.

It has forecast cold wave conditions in 10 districts of the state, including Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Chatra, Gumla, Simdega, Koderma, Hazaribagh and Giridih. People of these districts have been advised to remain alert and avoid cold.

For the next two days, the minimum temperature of some districts has been forecasted to be between four to five degrees Celsius below normal.

The weather will remain dry till January 14. After the government’s order to keep schools closed till the fifth grade till January 15, private schools have decided to conduct online classes during this period.