Winter breaks, pollution and Cyclone Senyar: Will schools be closed in your city?

Delhi: With winter in full swing and Cyclone Senyar approaching, schools across India are preparing for possible closures. Rising air pollution in cities like Delhi, combined with heavy rainfall and water logging in parts of the east and south, may force authorities to declare early holidays, while many institutions have already scheduled their winter breaks.

Schools in New Delhi are currently operating with only 50 per cent staff and following a hybrid format because of severe air pollution.

In Uttar Pradesh, schools will remain closed for a 12-day winter vacation from 20 December to 31 December 2025. PM Shri schools will have a break from 23 December 2025 to 1 January 2026.

The School Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir has announced winter vacations for all schools in the winter zone of Jammu and for government and recognised private schools up to the higher secondary level in the Kashmir division.

Students in Pre-primary (Balvatika) Classes will be on holiday from 26 November until 28 February 2026.

For Classes 1 to 8, vacations will start on 1 December and continue until 28 February 2026.

Students from Classes 9 to 12 will have holidays from 11 December to 22 February 2026.

Schools up to Class 8 are scheduled to reopen on 1 March next year, while higher classes will resume a week earlier, on 22 February.

Which areas may see school closures due to Cyclone Senyar?

State governments in several regions may declare school holidays in the coming days as parts of eastern and southern India are expected to receive heavy rainfall and face water logging due to Cyclone Senyar.

In Tamil Nadu, district administrations in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi may announce school closures after monitoring the situation.

What is the current status of Cyclone Senyar?

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata's Alipore, a low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify into a depression.

A cyclonic storm is expected to develop in the Bay of Bengal around 26 November. The storm has been named Senyar, a name given by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It will be the second cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal during the post-monsoon season.

(With agency inputs)