School holidays extended in J&K till July 26 as IMD forecasts heavy rain; Himachal, Uttarakhand on alert

As the southwest monsoon strengthens across northern India, school operations are beginning to reflect the changing weather. Jammu and Kashmir has extended school holidays till July 26, while neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand remain on alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rainfall across the region over the coming days.The move in Jammu and Kashmir comes as authorities shift from dealing with a prolonged heatwave to preparing for heavy rain.

Schools that were scheduled to reopen on July 20 after summer vacations will now remain closed for another week.J&K extends school holidaysThe Jammu and Kashmir government announced on Tuesday that summer vacations for all government and recognised private schools in the Kashmir Division and Winter Zones of Jammu Division have been extended till July 26.Education Minister Sakina Ittoo announced the decision through a post on X."Keeping the safety and well-being of students, teachers and their families as our foremost priority, the summer vacation for all government and recognised private schools in the Kashmir Division and Winter Zones of Jammu Division is hereby extended up to 26th July, 2026."The schools will resume their routine from Monday, July 27.The minister also appealed to residents to remain cautious."I request everyone to stay safe, remain vigilant and follow the advisories issued by the concerned authorities.

Wishing everyone good health and safety."The schools had originally closed for summer vacations from July 6 due to intense heatwave conditions. They were expected to reopen on July 20 before the extension was announced.IMD forecasts widespread rainfallAccording to the IMD's forecast issued on July 22, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad between July 22 and July 24.The weather office has also forecast widespread rainfall over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand between July 22 and July 27.The forecast has prompted authorities to closely monitor the situation as the monsoon intensifies across the Himalayan region.No school closure order yet in Himachal, UttarakhandDespite the rainfall forecast, the governments or education departments of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have not announced statewide school holidays so far.Students, parents and schools in both states are advised to keep checking official notifications issued by the respective state governments and local authorities, as decisions on school closures may depend on local weather conditions.Any fresh announcement regarding suspension of classes or extension of holidays is expected to be issued by the concerned authorities if the weather situation worsens.School closure decisions are generally taken by district administrations or state education departments based on local conditions.

Until any fresh orders are issued, students should rely only on official notifications and avoid unverified information circulating on social media.Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.