The Assam government has announced the closure of schools in the Kamrup Metropolitan district, including Guwahati, from December 31, 2025, to January 6, 2026, due to a severe cold wave. The decision, made by the district administration, prioritizes the safety and well-being of students in light of the ongoing weather conditions. Classes are scheduled to resume on January 7, 2026.
The Chief Minister's Office confirmed that the closure applies to all government and provincialised schools in the district. Provincialised schools are privately managed institutions that the government has taken over. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu has instructed District Commissioners to evaluate the local situations and take necessary actions regarding rescheduling or closures.
The order follows a sharp drop in daytime temperatures in Guwahati, where the mercury dipped 6.4 degrees Celsius below normal. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature in Guwahati was 18.1 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was 15.1 degrees Celsius, 4.3 degrees above normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cloudy skies with light rain or drizzle and shallow fog in isolated areas until Thursday morning. Temperatures are expected to hover around 19 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius. An upper air cyclonic circulation over Northeast Assam, approximately 1.5 km above mean sea level, is contributing to the current weather conditions.
The Inspector of Schools (IS) for the Kamrup Metropolitan district has issued an advisory instructing all school heads to inform students, parents, and staff about the closure. Schools have been directed to suspend all academic and co-curricular activities during the closure and prepare for a smooth resumption of classes. The IS has also advised private schools to make their own decisions regarding closures, based on local conditions and the best interests of their students.
The cold wave has disrupted daily life in Assam, with dense fog affecting visibility and vehicular movement. Guwahati recorded a minimum temperature of around 16 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius on Monday. The IMD forecasts that temperatures in Guwahati will further drop to 12 degrees Celsius at the start of the New Year. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati had previously indicated that cold weather, accompanied by morning fog and mist, would persist across the state until December 30.
Across northern and northeastern India, many schools are closing due to severe winter conditions. States have ordered shutdowns to protect students from plummeting temperatures, dense fog, and rising pollution. In Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar district, all schools will remain closed until January 1, 2026, due to dense fog and poor air quality. Delhi has extended winter closures, and Haryana and Punjab have also implemented precautionary closures in affected districts.
