Bhubaneswar, Oct. 25: The state government today ordered that all schools, colleges and other educational institutions across 13 districts be closed till Monday in view of the torrential rain and floods. The closure may be further extended if the situation did not improve, said government officials.

The decision was taken considering the severe damage to the infrastructure of educational institutions, which are doubling up as shelter houses for the victims in the rain and flood-ravaged districts, said secretary of school and mass education Usha Padhee.

However, an earlier government order for extension of Puja vacations in schools and colleges of Ganjam district till November 4 stands.

The government had initially declared holiday in 12 districts, which have been affected due to the incessant rain caused by a low-pressure belt over the Bay of Bengal. The districts were Khurda, Cuttack, Gajapati, Ganjam, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Puri, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal.

Later, Jajpur was also included in the list following a request from the district collector, who said the situation there was equally grim.

A government official said the teaching staff members in these 13 districts might be engaged for relief and rehabilitation work in the face of the calamity.

“We are taking stock of the situation. Based on reports of the collectors of the districts concerned, we will decide the future course of action,” said Padhee.