Himachal shuts schools till September 7 as rains intensify, minister cites student safety

The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered all schools and colleges in the state to remain closed till September 7 due to continuous heavy rains that have caused landslides, road blockages, and damage to public infrastructure. The decision covers government and private schools, colleges, and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs). Officials said the step was taken to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff.

An official order issued by the Department of Higher Education stated that no teachers or administrative staff need to attend during this period. However, school heads must try to hold online classes so that teaching is not completely interrupted. Authorities have also asked institutions to remain alert and ensure that infrastructure, movable assets, and important records are kept safe during the closure.

The state has been facing heavy to very heavy rainfall for the last several days, leading to landslides, falling trees, power cuts, water supply interruptions, and large-scale damage to roads and public buildings. The order warned that such incidents may continue across Himachal due to the ongoing bad weather.

Government prioritises student safety

Education Minister Rohit Thakur said the decision was taken after considering the safety of students. He noted that the rain has affected not just Himachal Pradesh but other northern states like Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana as well.

“In view of the record-breaking rainfall and the situation in the last three to four days, our government had already given powers to district administrations to take decisions locally. But now, to avoid confusion, we have taken a uniform decision to keep all educational institutions closed till September 7,” Thakur told reporters.

The minister said that the safety of children is the government’s top priority. While physical classes will not take place, online teaching will continue so that students do not lose touch with their studies. He expressed hope that the weather would improve and regular classes could resume from next week.

Thakur also mentioned that Teachers’ Day celebrations on September 5 would go ahead as planned at the state level, with the Governor and Chief Minister in attendance. He further added that September 8 would be a historic day for Himachal Pradesh, as the state would be formally declared fully literate.

The minister said the education department is one of the largest in the state and works closely with officials to strengthen and improve the system. “Our attempt is to consolidate education and make it stronger in the state,” he said.

Heavy rain impacts sports and apple season

Apart from schools, the ongoing rainfall has also disrupted sports activities. Thakur said that 14 sports tournaments had to be postponed in different districts due to unsafe conditions. These events will be rescheduled once the weather improves and local situations allow.

The rains have also hit the apple season, which is vital for Himachal’s economy. Thakur, who comes from Shimla district, said roads there have been badly damaged, affecting the movement of apple cartons to markets. “So far, 1.35 crore cartons have been marketed, which is about 50% of the crop,” he said.

He explained that losses to the apple crop began earlier this year in June and July in districts like Mandi, then spread to Chamba and Kullu, and now Shimla. The marketing of apples depends heavily on road connectivity, which has been severely affected.

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The Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh has already reviewed the road restoration process. Thakur said he would also hold a meeting with officials to make sure roads are repaired quickly and farmers are able to transport their fruit without further losses. “The next 15–20 days are crucial for both apple harvesting and road restoration efforts,” he said.

The minister assured that the government is working to restore connectivity as soon as possible. “All efforts will be made to open roads quickly so that farmers and orchardists do not suffer further losses,” he said.

For now, the government’s main focus remains on public safety, especially that of students. With schools shut, online teaching, relief work, and road repair will continue while the state waits for the weather to stabilise.