Authorities in Karsog Subdivision, Himachal Pradesh, have announced the closure of all schools, colleges, anganwadi centers, and vocational institutes on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, due to the severe weather conditions affecting the region. This precautionary measure comes in response to continuous heavy rainfall that has led to road blockages and frequent landslides.
According to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Karsog, the persistent rain since the previous night has severely impacted local infrastructure, making transportation unsafe for students and staff. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the next four days, which has prompted this decision.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s order cites the risk posed by the adverse weather conditions, including potential landslides and road disruptions, as the main reasons for the closure. The official stated, “Due to continuous rainfall since last night, which has caused blockage of roads and many incidents of frequent landslides have been reported. Also, there is a forecast of heavy rainfall for the whole of the day on August 7, 2024. Under such circumstances, the movement of staff, school, and college children, and trainees may not be safe and is required to be restricted.”
In line with the order, all government and private educational institutions, including anganwadi centers and vocational training centers, are required to remain closed to ensure the safety and security of students and staff. The heads of these institutions have been instructed to enforce this directive strictly as a matter of public safety.
The impact of this heavy rainfall extends beyond Karsog. The IMD has issued a broader orange alert for several regions, forecasting intense rainfall over the next few days. The alert covers not only Himachal Pradesh but also Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
In North India, isolated intense rainfall is expected over Uttarakhand on August 7, 9, and 10, while West Uttar Pradesh will experience similar conditions on August 7 and 8. The IMD predicts isolated heavy rainfall over East Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from August 7 to 12. Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh are also likely to receive rainfall on August 7 and 10.
For Western and Central India, the IMD has forecast extremely heavy showers. East Madhya Pradesh is expected to face particularly intense downpours today. Additionally, warnings have been issued for heavy rainfall at isolated locations in Goa and Konkan from August 7 to August 11, and Madhya Maharashtra from August 7 to August 12. West Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are expected to see heavy rainfall on August 7 and 8, while Gujarat will experience similar conditions on August 9.
